Barabati-Cuttack MLA Mohammed Moquim sends legal notice to BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra for bribe remark
By A K Sahoo
Cuttack, Dec. 7: In a significant development, Barabati-Cuttack MLA Mohammed Moquim on Monday served a legal notice to BJP national spokesperson Dr Sambit Patra for his December 1 remark that nine Congress MLAs had recived bribe from the ruling BJD to maintain silence in the Odisha Legislative Assembly with regard to murder of five year-old girl Amrita Sneha Sahoo alias Pari of Jadupur in Nayagarh district.
“To the utter shock and dismay of my client, it recently came to his knowledge that you have given a press byte on December 1, 2020 whereby you have accused nine MLAs of Indian National Congress have appropriated money from the ruling BJD in order to maintain silence on Pari murder. It may not be out of place to mention here that my client is one of the nine MLAs who have been accused and defamed by you. These remarks have been made by you without an iota of proof against my client,” Shaswat Singh, the lawmaker’s counsel told Dr Patra in the notice.
The notice further said, “On account of the above facts, you are called upon to take your statement back through a press conference and tender an unconditional apology with folded hands, within 7 days from the date of receipt of this notice and cease and desist from maligning the reputation of my client in any conceivable manner. In case, you fail to comply with the aforesaid terms of the notice within 15 days of receipt of the same, my client shall be constrained to initiate criminal proceedings for defamation under the provisions of Indian Penal Code, 1860, which entails punishment up to 2 years of imprisonment or fine or with both in a competent court of law at your risk and cost.
The Congress had demanded a High Court monitored Special Investigation Team probe into the Pari murder case while the BJP, the main opposition, insisted for CBI probe.
After the state government agreed for SIT probe the Congress withdrew from its agitations in the Assembly and participated in legislative businesses. The BJP, however, said it would not cooperate in the function of the House till the key the state minister Arun Kumar Sahoo was arrested.
Parents of Pari has alleged minister Arun Kumar Sahoo has been shielding the key accused Babuli Nayak.
