In fresh trouble for controversial Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, senior Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik on Monday filed a breach of privilege notice against some media outlets for running stories allegedly based on a tweet put out by the actress that a Pakistani credit card was found during the recent raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on his houses.
Sarnaik, a three-time MLA and close aide of chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, in his breach of privilege notice filed against Kangana before the Principal Secretary of the Maharashtra Legislature said: “On November 24, the ED raided my houses in Mumbai and Thane and seized several documents. The ED called me and my son for inquiry and we are cooperating with the ED”.
“On December 12 and 13, some selected news papers, electronic media and web portals -- based on a tweet by Kangana – reported that a Pakistani credit card was found in my house during the raids. They published without any proof. The only basis they had was a false tweet put out by the actress. The news reports have defamed me and projected me in a poor light,” Sarnaik stated in his notice.
He has urged the Principal Secretary concerned to forward his notice/complaint to the Privilege Committee of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly so that an inquiry into the matter of breach of privilege and necessary action can be taken against Kangana.
if the breach of privilege notice against the media outlets admitted by the State Legislature, Kangana -- apart from the media houses -- may also asked to appear before the Privileges Committee to know on what basis she put out the “false” tweet which, Sarnaik has alleged, has maligned his image as an elected representative.
It may be recalled that Sarnaik had earlier in September moved a breach of privilege motion in the State Assembly against Arnab Goswami, Republic TV editor in chief, for using “derogatory” language against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Sarnaik had also accused Goswami of insulting ministers and MPs during his TV debates.
Sarnaik and his family members are being investigated for their links with TOPS GRUP, a security service provider company owned by Rahul Nanda. On his part, Nanda has gone on record, saying that Sarnaik was his friend for the past 25 years but had not invested in his company.
The case registered by the ED against Nanda and Sarnaik is based on two senior employees of TOPS GRUP, who were terminated from service for alleged misappropriation of money. In their complaint, the two employees had alleged that Nanda had “diverted” money to an off-shore trust and his company had indulged in alleged irregularities in the acquisition of a firm in the UK The Shield Guarding Co Ltd for Rs 140 crore in 2017. On his part, Nanda has told the ED that he had set up a trust in Mauritius as per laws.
On November 24, the ED had conducted simultaneous raids on two residences and eight other premises of Sarnaik and his family, and detained his son Vihang for questioning. Soon afterwards, a political controversy broke out in the state, as the ruling MVA partners slammed the BJP for “misusing’ its official machinery to get at them on the occasion of their government celebrating its first anniversary in office.