SHAH SUMMONED BY BENGAL COURT IN DEFAMATION CASE BY ABHISHEK
KOLKATA: A special court designated for MPS and MLAS in West Bengal has summoned Union home minister Amit Shah to appear before it either personally or through a lawyer on Monday in connection with a defamation suit filed by Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, as the political battle between the TMC and the BJP heats up ahead of the assembly elections in the state.
“The special court designated for MPS and MLAS has summoned Amit Shah to either appear in person or through a pleader at 10 am on February 22,” said Banerjee’s lawyer.
In 2018, Shah allegedly made certain defamatory statements against Banerjee at a rally.
A special court designated for MPS and MLAS in West Bengal has summoned Union home minister Amit Shah to appear before it either personally or through a lawyer on Monday in connection with a defamation suit filed by Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, as the political battle between the TMC and the BJP heats up ahead of the assembly elections in the state.
“The special court designated for MPS and MLAS has summoned Amit Shah to either appear in person or through a pleader at 10 am on February 22,” said Sanjay Basu, Banerjee’s lawyer.
On August 11, 2018 Shah allegedly made certain defamatory statements against Banerjee while addressing the Yuva Swabhiman Samavesh Rally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kolkata. “Shah brought allegations of corruption against Baneerjee. He alleged that Banerjee was involved in syndicate corruption and siphoned off money which was sent by the Centre,” Basu claimed.
A criminal complaint case was filed on August 28, 2018 under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (punishment for defamation). The court took cognizance of the complaint and sum
mons were issued on Friday.
BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said the move indicated that TMC leadership was feeling unsettled. “This indicates that the TMC leadership is unsettled by the BJP’S campaigning in general and Amit Shah’s in particular which is resonating with the public. That is why they are constantly resorting to diversionary tactics to somehow try and prevent him and other BJP leaders from campaigning,” he said.
The summons have been issued at a time when Bengal is preparing for state elections in which the BJP is mounting a strong challenge to the TMC.
“To file a suit against a central minister one has to get the prior approval of the President of India. Both the chief minister and her nephew have been using unparliamentary words against many opposition leaders. No one has charged them,” said Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyay, a political commentator and former principal of Presidency College.