As part of an ongoing bitter exchange of allegations and counter-allegations against each other by Maharashtra’s former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik, Fadnavis’ banker-wife Amruta and Malik’s son-in-law Sameer Khan served legal notices against each for defamatory statements being made against each other.
On day when Malik welcomed a probe launched by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the Pune Wakf board scam and said he enjoyed the support of all the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders in his fight against Fadnavis and NCB’s Zonal director Sameer Wankhede, the family members of the two leaders joined them in the war of charges and
counter charges.
Fadnavis’ wife Amruta and Malik’s daughter Nilofer Malik Khan released copies of the legal notices on their respective twitter handles, sent through their lawyers.
“Mr @nawabmalikncp shared a series of defamatory, misleading and maligning tweets including some pictures! Here is Notice of Defamation including criminal proceedings under various Sections of IPC. Either delete tweets in 48 hours with unconditional public apology or face action!,” Amruta Fadnavis tweeted.
Uploading the legal notice sent by her husband Sameer Khan to Fadnavnis threatening to file a `5 crore defamation suit, Nilofer Malik Khan tweeted: False accusations ruin lives.
Before one accuses or condemns they must know what they are talking about. This defamation notice is for the false claims & statements which Mr. @Dev_Fadnavis has put on my family. We will not back down”
On her part, Amruta - in her notice served on Malik - referred to various “defamatory” tweet and photographs put out by the latter linking her to an alleged drug peddler Jaideep Rana, who purportedly financed the video song titled “River March” rendered by the former Chief Minister’s wife Amruta with Sonu Nigam.
“Rana was hired by the creative team of `River March’ that Mr Rana was hired by them and our client or her family had no association with him. This fact has already been clarified by `River March’ that Mr Rana was hired by them as financial head. During the event photographs with the entire team and others who were present were taken. Our client states that her husband, being the then chief minister of the state, had participated in the event to promote the campaign which was of social importance,” lawyer Hitesh Jain stated in his notice sent to Malik on behalf of Amruta Fadnavis.
Among other things, Amruta asked Malik to delete the defamatory tweets within 48 hours of the receipt of the notice and tender unconditional apology by addressing a news conference, failing which she would initiate legal proceedings against the Maharashtra Minister under section 499 and 500 for defamation.
In the notice issued on behalf of Malik’s son-in-law Sameer Khan, his lawyer R I Ansari referred to a statements made by Fadnavis telecast on ABP News: “Aata Nawab Malik anche Jaavayi hey drugs sakat sapaadle aahe” ( Now Nawab Malik’s son-in-law was found with drugs in his possession” and “Jayncha Gharish drugs saapadtat tyanchi party kay honar aahe” ( In whose house drugs were found what will will happen to his party).
Sameer Khan stated that the allegations made by Fadnavis were “baseless and without any merits”. “The chargesheet filed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) does not support even a single allegation levied by you. The Panchanama dated 14/01/2021 ( filed by the NCB) clearly says that the house was searched and no contraband or suspicious substance was found in my client’s house or under his possession. But which source you obtained such a false, frivolous and baseless report is better known to you,” Ansari told Fadnavis on behalf of his client Sameer Khan in the notice.
Meanwhile, amid reports that the ED has raided seven places in Pune and one place in Aurangabad in connection with the Pune Waqf Board land scam, Malik said that he as the Minority affairs minister welcomed the ED’s action, as his ministry --under which the Waqf Board falls -- has already initiated “clean-up” measures.
Talking to media persons, Malilk said: “ Media reports are claiming that Nawab Malik is in trouble as ED has taken up some cases pertaining to his ministry. I want to say ED is more than welcome to do its job. We will cooperate with them in every possible way. But if there is a campaign to threaten me or to malign my image because of the fight that we have started against central agencies, then I would say Maharashtra government, Maharashtra ministers, leaders do not get scared by central agencies”.
Maintaining that there had been no raid in the Waqf Board office as well, Malik said: “The agency can only clarify whether Devendra Fadnavis made the complaint or not. I only came to know that there have been some raids and that television channels are saying Nawab Malik is in trouble,” the minister said.
A section of the media had earlier in the day reported that seven places in Pune and one place in Aurangabad had been raided by the ED officials in connection with the Pune Waqf Board land scam case involving irregularities to the tune of Rs 10 crore. The raids started on Thursday morning after an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) was registered by their zone-2 office.
In a related development, Malik - who has been “exposing” NCB’s Zonal director Sameer Wankhede’s efforts to implicate falsely innocent people including Bollywood super star Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan and Fadnavis’ alleged links with the underworld -- debunked the Opposition BJP’s claim that he was fighting “solitary battle”.
“I am not alone. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, NCP President Sharad Pawar, all ministers, the government and the party are standing by me solidly,” Malik said.
“I may be fighting alone, but I have the full backing and blessings of all the top leaders that gives me the strength. I have taken up this responsibility to cleanse up certain things and will continue,” Malik added.
Malik’s statement came a day after the state cabinet presided over by Thackeray complimented Malik for his ongoing war in which he has exposed alleged acts of irregularities by Wankhede and the BJP leaders who are supporting the NCB’s zonal director.
Malik has among other things alleged the raid on the rave party on board Goa-bound luxury cruise carried out by Wankhede was “fake”, that the latter has been targeting Bollywood in drug-related matters, that he has extorted money from film personalities, that he has forged a caste certificate to join IRS and that he was enjoying “lavish lifestyle” from the proceeds of extorted money.