Mann vs Majithia : Punjab CM’s OSD sends defamation notice to SAD leader

The political fight between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's camp and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia has taken a legal turn, with Mann's officer on special duty (OSD) Rajbir Singh Ghuman sending a defamation notice to the SAD leader over his allegations against him.

Ghuman has asked Majithia to remove posts, videos and other content containing the allegations within 24 hours and issue an unconditional public apology.

The notice also seeks a clear retraction of the allegations and a written undertaking that Majithia will not repeat them, according to an AAP statement.

The warning comes days after Ghuman challenged Majithia to produce evidence to back his allegations or apologise.

On August 19, Ghuman said that if Majithia had even a single chat or other evidence showing that he had asked anyone for money, he should make it public. Otherwise, he should apologise or face a defamation case.

Majithia's allegations followed an Enforcement Directorate letter to the Punjab DGP seeking registration of an FIR against some people allegedly linked to Ghuman.

The ED letter is part of a money laundering probe linked to alleged fake consent letters used to obtain change of land use in a housing society case.

Majithia has alleged that the WhatsApp chats mentioned in the ED letter raise questions about transfers and postings of government officials, arms licences, land deals, confidential government information and alleged payments or benefits.

Ghuman has rejected the allegations as false and defamatory.

The notice said damages were currently unquantified and could increase with every further publication, view, share or repost of the alleged defamatory material. It also warned that continued circulation would be used to seek aggravated damages and other legal relief.

The SAD, however, hit back at the notice.

Party chief spokesperson Arshdeep Singh Kler called it an attempt to silence Majithia and divert attention from the ED investigation.

Kler questioned why Ghuman had issued a defamation notice if he had already acknowledged his friendship and the chats referred to in the ED letter.

He also alleged that the AAP government was using Ghuman to intimidate Majithia after the SAD leader raised questions about transactions, properties, companies and alleged benami businesses linked to him.

The notice has added a fresh legal angle to the political fight between the Mann government and Majithia, with both sides now trading allegations over the ED-linked matter.

(With inputs from PTI)