Rajeev Chandrasekhar accuses Shashi Tharoor of defamation, sends legal notice

NEW DELHI: BJP candidate from Thiruvananthapuram, Rajeev Chandrasekhar has sent Congress leader Shashi Tharoor a notice of defamation, alleging willful spread of misinformation.

Chandrasekhar in his notice has accused Tharoor of willfully spreading misinformation among Thiruvananthapuram's electors. The notice states that Tharoor disseminated fake information about buying off important voters and powerful individuals like parish priests, among other people.

"Immediately withdraw all the allegations and aspersions made by you the Noticee against Our Client, i.e. Rajeev Chandrashekhar on the aforesaid news channel dated 06.04.2024; Tender an unconditional public apology to Our Client to his satisfaction through print and electronic media about the said baseless allegations and aspersions made by you the Noticee; and Immediately cease, refrain and desist from defaming, harassing, hampering the reputation of Our Client and spreading any uncalled for rumour and stop indulging in any such activities in the future," the notice read.

"It is apprehended that you (Shashi Tharoor) have concocted these allegations and circulated them to influence the voters in Thiruvananthapuram. It is feared that you have engaged in spreading such false news to subvert the process of free and fair elections," the noitce further added.

Chandrasekhar expressed his "shock" at the accusations made by Tharoor during a TV appearance with a news outlet located in Kerala.

Tharoor had allegedly said that Rajeev Chandrasekhar gave money to influential voters in the constituency, including parish priests and other religious and community leaders, without revealing their identities to the public.

Along with calling for the withdrawal of what he views as Shashi Tharoor's careless remarks, the BJP leader had also threatened legal action against Tharoor unless he issued a public apology.

"Shocked and surprised to watch the news video dated 06.04.2024 on a Malayalam news channel named 24 News, wherein you, the Noticee (Shashi Tharoor), made defamatory statements alleging that Our Client (Rajeev Chandrasekhar) had indulged in illegal activities of offering money to voters and that Our Client is spreading lies in Christian communities. Not only are the said statements totally and completely false but it is clear that the same was made with the clear mala fide intent to tarnish the reputation of Our Client to try and gain an unfair advantage in the upcoming elections," the legal notice further said.


(With inputs from agencies)