Just 24 hours after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced their nominees for the Rajya Sabha, one of their three choices, Delhi-based businessman Sushil Gupta filed defamation cases against leaders who accused him of “buying” the nomination.
Mr. Gupta sent out notices to former Water Minister of Delhi and rebel leader Kapil Mishra, along with BJP leaders Parvesh Verma and Harish Khurana for questioning the credibility of his nomination.
Caused disgrace
The notice said that the language used by Mr. Mishra, Mr. Verma and Mr. Khurana, in the media and on the social media have caused “disgrace, humiliation, ridicule and contempt” to Mr. Gupta.
“…The addressee, have maliciously defamed my client in writing and have also committed the offence punishable under Section 500 IPC (Indian Penal Code) and are also liable to pay damages/compensation to my client (Gupta), which presently quantified and claimed to the tune of ₹5 crore,” the notice read.
Kapil Mishra
Mr. Mishra took to Twitter to reply to Mr. Gupta’s notice saying that he is not afraid of any defamation because he has spoken the “truth”.
Speaking the truth
“If speaking the truth causes defamation to him [Gupta], then I will defame him a 100 times. The entire nation knows how such people go to the Rajya Sabha. Their only qualification is money. By sending them to the Rajya Sabha, the people of Delhi have been defamed,” Mr. Mishra said.
He also said, “…You [Gupta] have no relation either with the party or with the movement. Put your note [money] and notice in your own pocket. I had entered politics to fight against people like you.”
‘Will move court’
Replying to Mr. Mishra’s comments, Mr. Gupta told The Hindu that he will consider his statement before the media and on the social media as an official reply to his notice and will move court against him in the coming days.
“I have not received a reply from Mr. Parvesh Verma and Mr. Harish Khurana. I will wait for them to reply to take the next step. However, with Mr. Mishra, my lawyer will move court against his statements,” he said.
