Defamation charge: CM’s bro-in-law sends legal notice to Vyapam whistleblower

Special Correspondent

NewsBits.in

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s brother-in-law Sanjay Singh (Masani) has sent a legal notice to Vyapam whistleblower Dr Anand Rai for his alleged defaming charges against Singh recently.

Sanjay Singh said that Dr Rai had made some allegations against him on television and social media, something that had tremendously hurt him and his family and made him lose mental peace.

Singh also said that the allegations were all false and legal notice has been sent to Dr Rai for him to apologise unconditionally within 15 days. “Failing this, we would file a case – civil or criminal – against him (Dr Rai) in Mumbai High Court,” Singh said.

Sanjay Singh, who is linked to the Mumbai film industry, claimed that he was accredited journalist too and said that being multi-talented should not be a problem for someone. He alleged that Dr Rai had made the allegations to garner some cheap publicity.

Dr Rai had alleged on a TV channel that Singh had made big investments in Mumbai film industry that is well known for black money investments and added that CM Shivraj Singh gave undue tax exemptions to such movies that had his brother-in-law’s investments.

He had also said that Sanjay Singh owned an apartment in one of very expensive flat schemes in Andheri (West) in Mumbai.

Each of the apartments might cost up to Rs 20 crores, Dr Rai said while talking to NewsBits.in, adding that according to information with him Singh had purchased more apartments in same scheme and also has many more expensive properties. “How can a journalist by his own claim afford such properties?” he said.

Dr Rai, further said that he stands by his allegations and would give suitable reply after legal consultation when he gets the notice from Singh.

The whistleblower said that he had come to know that the legal notice from Singh had the same address of Andheri (West) on which he (Dr Rai) had made claims. Also it was known fact that Singh made investments in film industry. “The CM should clarify under which policy he gives tax exemptions to particular movies,” the whistleblower said.

Dr Rai also said that he has already forwarded the information on disproportionate assets of Singh to the Mumbai income tax department. “I am a whistleblower and I would forward any information I get on violations to suitable authorities for further action. Such threats through notices are attempts at gagging our voice,” he said.

He also alleged that the lawyer who accompanied Singh to press conference (Rajesh Bindra) was MP government’s panel lawyer in Mumbai High Court. “This shows that the CM is waging a proxy war against me by keeping his brother-in-law as a front,” Dr Rai said.

(Photo courtesy: bhaskar.com)