BJP MP Somaiya files defamation suit against Sena mouthpiece

MUMBAI: Kirit Somaiya, the BJP MP from Mumbai North-East, today filed a defamation suit against Shiv Sena mouthpiece `Saamana', its editor and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and printer-publisher Rajendra Bhagwat for carrying articles allegedly tarnishing his image.

Somaiya has demanded Rs one crore in damages.

He has also made Kalpana Inamdar, who, at a press conference, had made some allegations against Somaiya which the Saamana articles carried, a defendant in his suit which would come up before the Bombay High Court in due course.

Though BJP and Shiv Sena are alliance partners, their relations, ahead of next year's Mumbai civic polls, are quite strained.

Somaiya says in the suit that the articles published in the newspaper on May 15 and 21 contained "baseless, shocking and defamatory" statements against him.

Inamdar had alleged that Somaiya, through his wife, `grabbed' a Slum Rehabilitation Authority Project.

Somaiya claims to have a letter from SRA saying that he or his family has no connection with any of its projects.

Inamdar had also alleged that Somaiya and his wife invested black money in various companies in the names of his relatives. This allegation is also baseless and damaged his reputation, the BJP MP says in the suit.

He has also sought a permanent injunction restraining "Saamana" from republishing the defamatory articles or any other article which may harm his reputation.

Before "Saamana" published the allegations against Somaiya, the BJP MP had accused the Sena-controlled Mumbai civic body of rampant corruption.