Following the expiration of the deadline for the defamation notice issued by Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding allegations of his involvement in a coal smuggling case, Adhikari has decided to proceed with legal action. Adhikari’s counsel had sent a notice to the Chief Minister, demanding evidence within 72 hours or face defamation proceedings, both civil and criminal.
With the deadline now passed, Adhikari announced his intention to move to court against Banerjee. He stated that Banerjee’s failure to respond indicated her inability to substantiate her claims, emphasizing that her accusations were baseless and would have legal consequences.
Adhikari’s defamation notice came after Banerjee publicly implicated him and a BJP state vice president in the coal smuggling case, suggesting that the proceeds reached the Union Home Minister. Controversies arose last week with Enforcement Directorate raids at the Indian Political Action Committee’s office and the residence of I-PAC co-founder Pratik Jain in Kolkata.
