Anil Parab files ₹100 crore defamation suit in Bombay High Court against BJP leader Kirit Somaiya

Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab has filed a ₹100 crore defamation suit in Bombay High Court against Kirit Somaiya, Vice President of BJP's Maharashtra Unit (Anil Parab v. Kirit Somaiya)..Parab has claimed in his suit that on June 2021, Somaiya published a defamatory and reckless allegation against Parab on his Twitter handle in connection with some construction carried out in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.The implication of the tweet was that Parab was allegedly involved in a scam which involved carrying out illegal construction..Parab stated that he had no connection with the construction as alleged by Somaiya. In addition, he contended that no statutory agency or authority had issued any notice to the him in relation to any scam "much less some construction carried out in Ratnagiri". .Parab claimed that the successive tweets by Somaiya on the subject-matter were covered by the mainstream print and electronic media as a result of which Parab was being "beseeched by journalists, colleagues in the Government and within his political party". .Somaiya did not restrict his actions of defaming Parab only with respect to the construction, but also started alleging that Parab has committed offences of extortion and is liable to be put in prison for the same, Parab alleged in the suit filed through advocate Sushma Singh..Parab had issued a legal notice to Somaiya on September 14, 2021 calling upon Somaiya to forthwith delete all tweets against Parab and withdraw all the defamatory imputations.Somaiya neither acted upon the notice, nor replied to the same, the suit said..In light of the same, Parab was compelled to move the High Court seeking directions to Somaiya to shell out ₹100 crores as damages on account of defamation committed.Additionally Parab has sought unconditional apology on affidavit along with public apology in at least two leading English newspapers and regional language newspapers with a tweet on Somaiya's personal Twitter handle..Parab has also sought an order of permanent injunction against Somaiya from making any defamatory statements against Parab in future.