NEW DELHI: Bihar minister Ashok Chaudhary on Tuesday sent a defamation notice to Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor after Kishor accused him of corruption. It demanded that Kishor either substantiate his claims or face criminal proceedings and a civil suit seeking Rs 100 crore in damages in Bihar.Also Read: PK challenges JD(U) minister on ‘corruption’
The notice, sent by the JD(U) leader’s lawyer, gave the poll strategist-turned-politician one week to either provide evidence supporting his allegations or face legal action.“I call upon you to either provide proof to support your allegations or issue a written and oral unconditional apology, publicly in a press conference, for causing irreparable harm and besmirching the reputation and standing of my client, within a period of one week from the receipt of my legal notice failing which my client shall be constrained to initiate appropriate criminal proceedings and a civil suit for damages amounting to Rs 100 crore in the state of Bihar,” it said.The notice accused Kishor of running a “motivated campaign” against Chaudhary, highlighting his three-decade-long public service, leadership reputation, academic qualifications, and a previous invitation to Harvard University to present a paper. It also referred to a prior defamation case filed by Chaudhary against Kishor.Also Read: Minister should reply to PK’s corruption charges, says JD(U)The controversy stems from statements made by Kishor at a press conference in Patna on September 19, where he accused Chaudhary of corruption. Separately, during his “Bihar Badlao Yatra” in Jehanabad, Kishor again targeted Chaudhary, claiming that his family held properties worth Rs 200 crore and challenging him to either justify the holdings or resign: “If I am wrong, I must be jailed or a defamation case should be filed against me, but if it is true, then he should resign.”Political parties in Bihar are preparing for assembly elections expected later this year.