MP Congress chief hit with defamation notice over trust row

Veer Bharat Nyas Secretary Shriram Tiwari has served a Rs 5 crore defamation notice on Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari over his recent allegations regarding the trust, demanding that he publicly apologise within three days or face legal action.

The notice, issued through advocates Harish Mehta and Supreme Court lawyer Gunjan Chouksey, follows Patwari’s remarks made during a press conference in New Delhi, where he alleged that the Madhya Pradesh Government had handed over Government land and a building in Ujjain worth nearly Rs 500 crore to Veer Bharat Nyas on a lease of just Rs 1. Patwari had also claimed that the trust was closely linked to the Chief Minister and had been favoured in violation of established rules.

Addressing mediapersons here on Saturday, advocate Harish Mehta said Patwari made the allegations despite being aware of the relevant facts. He said the notice demands that Patwari withdraw his statements, issue a public clarification and tender an unconditional apology through the media within three days. Failing this, legal proceedings for defamation will be initiated.

Mehta said the allegations had damaged the personal and public reputation of Shriram Tiwari. He maintained that Veer Bharat Nyas functions in accordance with the law and works for people across all communities and religions. He accused Patwari of attempting to tarnish the image of both the trust and its secretary through baseless allegations.

Advocate Gunjan Chouksey said Veer Bharat Nyas is a legally registered public trust and not a private organisation. She noted that the Chief Minister serves as its chairperson and that the trust, established in 2012, was also headed by Congress Chief Ministers during previous Congress Governments.

Chouksey further said that if the Rs 5 crore sought through the defamation notice is awarded, the entire amount would be donated to a non-Governmental organisation.

The legal notice comes five days after Patwari alleged that the State Government had leased Government property worth around Rs 500 crore in Ujjain to Veer Bharat Nyas for Rs 1, claiming the trust had received undue benefits in violation of rules.