'Apologise Or Pay Rs 100 Crore': Bihar Minister Sends Notice To Prashant Kishor For Defamation

'Apologise Or Pay Rs 100 Crore': Bihar Minister Sends Notice To Prashant Kishor For Defamation

Prashant Kishor has been accused of making allegations about a Rs 200 crore irregular land deal involving Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary.

Patna:

On Tuesday, Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary issued a legal notice to Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, demanding an "unconditional apology" for allegedly defamatory statements or face legal action seeking Rs 100 crore in damages.

During a press conference held on September 19, Mr Kishor had claimed that Mr Choudhary was involved in an irregular land transaction amounting to Rs 200 crore.

Mr Choudhary, who serves as a national general secretary of the JD(U) and is considered a close associate of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has challenged Mr Kishor to present "proof" of his allegations or issue "an unconditional apology... publicly in a press conference".

The notice, sent through Mr Choudhary's lawyer Kumar Anjaneya Shanu, demands that the former poll strategist either "provide proof to support your allegations or issue a written and oral unconditional apology, publicly in a press conference".

The legal document states that Mr Kishor has "caused irreparable harm and besmirched the reputation" of the minister, and warns of "a civil suit for damages amounting to Rs 100 crore" if an appropriate response is not received within one week.

The Jan Suraaj Party founder had alleged that Mr Choudhary purchased "benami properties worth Rs 200 crore" through close relatives and a trust reportedly connected to some family members.

This development comes approximately three months after Mr Choudhary filed a previous defamation suit against Mr Kishor in a local court. That case stemmed from accusations that Mr Choudhary had bribed Union minister Chirag Paswan to secure an election ticket for his daughter Shambhavi, who currently serves as the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP from Samastipur.

In the seven-page notice, Shanu reminded Mr Kishor of the previous lawsuit, noting: "Instead of course correction, you have attacked my client with a new set of wild, frivolous and defamatory allegations".

Mr Kishor, who previously served as national vice president of the JD(U) before being expelled for indiscipline over five years ago, stands accused of "running a motivated campaign" against the minister.

The Jan Suraaj Party founder, who has ambitions to make significant political inroads in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, has been accused of having "besmirched the reputation and standing" of Mr Choudhary "to attain relevance in state politics."