Malviya, through his advocate, sent a legal notice to Sinha on June 8, asking him to take down the “false and derogatory” post made a day earlier.
“That the nature of allegations are extremely offensive in as much as, they falsely allege sexual misconduct purportedly committed by my client. The same is fatally injurious to the dignity and reputation of my client who, by virtue of his professional profile, is a public figure. Such malevolently malicious statements have been deliberately made to tarnish his reputation,” reads the notice.
It states that Malviya will proceed with legal action against Sinha if he fails to respond to the notice and remove his post within three days, which ends tomorrow. “Further, I call upon you to pay a sum of Rs 10 crore as civil damages for the mental harassment, agony and loss of reputation caused to my client that has been caused to my client via your Facebook post dated June 7,” the notice reads.
When contacted, Malviya said that appropriate action will follow against Sinha “since the Congress and earlier the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal held a press conference on the slanderous post”.
Sinha, when contacted, said, “I have sent an interim response (to the notice), saying that I will properly respond on June 16. My statement has been misinterpreted. What I wanted to say is that now is the time to stand by BJP workers who were victims of post-poll violence rather than indulging in physical pleasures.”
“I have neither withdrawn my post nor am I going to change my stand under any threat,” said Sinha, who is associated with the RSS and is the elder brother of former BJP state president Rahul Sinha. When contacted, Rahul Sinha refused to comment on the issue. “Please talk to the persons concerned with the matter,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Congress sought Malviya’s removal from his post. Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said, “Serious charges of sexual exploitation have been levelled against a very prominent office bearer of the BJP, the head of its IT cell… We seek the immediate removal of Amit Malviya from his position.”
BJP Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson in Bengal, Samik Bhattacharya, told The Indian Express that the party stands by Malviya. “He left his career to devote time to the BJP. Anyone who is not happy with his style of function may have made such baseless allegations, which are far from the truth. The Congress press conference is highly condemnable… It shows the degradation of its culture,” said Bhattacharya.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev said, “Those who gave us sermons on Sandeshkhali allegations should first start with the suspension of the accused.”