Kolkata (SunstarTV Bureau): A Special Court for MPs and MLAs in West Bengal on Friday issued summons to Home Minister Amit Shah to appear either personally or through a representative before the court on February 22 in connection with a defamation case filed by TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee. The case against Shah had been filed on August 28, 2018 under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code.
“Today the learned magistrate, Special Court West Bengal (MPs and MLA’s cases) has issued a summon upon Amit Shah to appear before the learned court on 22nd February,” said a statement issued by advocate Sanjay Basu on behalf of Abhishek Banerjee.
The court summons has mentioned that either Amit Shah has to appear in person or his pleader has to represent him before the special judge at 10 am on 22nd February.
On August 11, 2018, Shah, while speaking at the Yuva Swabhiman Samavesh Rally organised by BJP at Mayo Road in Kolkata, had reportedly said that the people of Bengal have not received money disbursed under central funds due to corruption by Trinamool Congress.
As per the submission in court, Shah had said, “The residents of the village in Bengal. Has the money reached your village? Where did it go? Where? Modi ji has sent it. Where did Rs3,59,000crore go? This has been gifted to the nephew and the syndicates. This has been sacrificed at the altar of corruption by the Trinamool Congress.”
On August 13, MP Abhishek Banerjee, who is also the Chief Minister’s nephew, sent a legal notice to Shah, demanding an apology from him for allegedly making defamatory statements against him. The notice sent to Shah stated, “In the course of your speech you had made various allegations against my client by making a flimsy and thinly veiled reference and/or insinuation to the nephew of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of the State of West Bengal.”
Later, Abhisekh filed a criminal defamation case against Shah.
