SAD chief Badal files Rs 1-c defamation suit against Mann, court issues summons

“I have filed a defamation suit in the court of Civil Judge (senior division) Sri Muktsar Sahib… (against) CM Mann for wilful defamation as part of an Aam Aadmi Party conspiracy against me, my family, as well as my party. Earlier, I used to ignore such lies and falsehoods, but now Mann will have to answer for his scurrilous statements in the court of law,” Badal said.

In the defamation suit, Badal referred to remarks made by Mann during the ‘Main Punjab Bolda Haan’ debate held at Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana on November 1. The Congress, SAD and BJP had skipped that debate.

The suit stated that Mann indulged in a drama by asserting that precious water of Punjab was taken by Badal and his family to their farmland in Balasar village of Haryana by constructing a private canal.

It said the chief minister made this “scurrilous” statement despite knowing the real facts of the case.

Badal said Mann was regularly making false, unsubstantiated and scurrilous statements against him, adding that the chief minister had portrayed him as well as the Badal family as “highly corrupt people who had looted Punjab besides calling them anti-Sikh and anti-Punjab”.

“All this has been done as part of a preplanned conspiracy of the chief minister in league with his political bosses,” Badal said in a statement.

He claimed the SAD had fought tirelessly to save each and every drop of water even as Mann and AAP had taken an adverse stand with respect to river waters in Haryana to gain political mileage.

CM Mann, at an event in Sangrur, said he will make a plea for daily hearing of the case to ensure that people are apprised about the “sins” of Badals.

He alleged that Badals “ignored” the interests of the state only for the sake of constructing a canal to their farmhouse by Haryana as reward for his “treachery” with the state.

He said, “Not only this the business of Badals in terms of hotels, villas, transport and others have flourished at the cost of the progress of the state, which will be told to the people in detail.”

Mann said Badal is contesting the case for saving his property whereas he will go to the court to save the people. The chief minister said he will “tell the world about all the misdeeds of the Badal family” due to which the state had lagged behind in various fields. :Those people who used to claim that they will rule the state for 25 years have been totally rejected by the people,” said Mann.

The defamation suit, filed by Badal’s counsel Manjinder Singh Brar, also noted that sufficient time had been given to Mann to apologise for his conduct by issuing a legal notice on November 17, 2023.

On Rs 1 crore sought in damages, Badal said, “I have stated in my petition that the money when awarded would be distributed in the service of the Sikh Panth and to the families of martyrs who laid down their lives for the country”.

“Mann has made a habit of lying. Now he will be held to account and will have to appear in court and explain his lies. We will not let him misuse his position as chief minister to indulge in slander,” he added.