Shillong, Sept 4: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar, has served a Rs 100 crore legal notice to former Shillong MP and incumbent president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Vincent H. Pala, for defaming him. He has also demanded an unconditional apology.

The legal notice is against Pala’s statement in a press conference on August 22, 2024, accusing Dhar of being the “spokesperson” of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) because he is allegedly under CBI scanner.

The notice by Sharan and Associates LLP, Dhar’s legal representatives, to Pala said, “While our client acknowledges that public office often invites criticism, the dissemination of falsehoods and allegations of illegality is a clear attempt to damage his public standing and reputation. The statements made during the press conference are designed to sensationally malign our client’s public life and image for your own selfish interests.”

The notice noted that: “These statements were made with deliberate and malicious intent to harm our client’s reputation and diminish his standing in the eyes of the public. They are blatant falsehoods contradicted by existing records and are specifically calculated to injure our client directly, as well as to ridicule him publicly. Your actions appear to be aimed at gaining material advantage by politically undermining our client’s prospects through the circulation of these false and defamatory statements.”

Asserting that Pala’s statement has severely harmed Dhar’s reputation, directly affecting his moral, intellectual, and upright character in the eyes of society, the notice demanded: “a. write a letter containing a suitable withdrawal and apology in terms to be approved by us on our client’s behalf and publish it in all leading newspapers; b. provide an undertaking in writing that you will not repeat the publication of these or similar allegations concerning our client; and c. pay damages amounting to Rs. 100 Crore (Rupees One Hundred Crores) for the defamation of our client. d. indemnify our client in respect of the costs to which he has been put in the matter.”

The notice also demanded Pala to retract the statements made during the press conference and to issue a public apology to Dhar, acknowledging that the statements made are false and unfounded. It also demanded him to provide a written unqualified apology along with an undertaking not to repeat these or similar allegations within seven days from the date of receipt of this legal notice via WhatsApp/e-mail/speed post, whichever is earliest.

Furthermore, the notice asked Pala to instruct social media platforms and websites to remove any electronic versions of the press conference that have been published online.

It also warned, “Please be advised that failure to comply with the terms outlined in this notice within seven days will be taken very seriously, and our client will be compelled to initiate appropriate legal proceedings in civil courts, including a defamation suit, as well as criminal complaints for offenses punishable under Sections 351 and 356 of the BNS, 2023. Any legal actions taken will be at your own risk, including costs and consequences.”

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