<p>A special court for MPs and MLAs in West Bengal on Friday summoned Union Home Minister Amit Shah to appear before it in person or through a lawyer on February 22, 2021. The summon was issued in relation to a defamation case filed against Shah by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee.</p>.<p>According to a statement issued by Banerjee’s lawyer Sanjay Basu, Shah had made “certain defamatory statements” against Banerjee at a BJP rally in Kolkata.</p>.<p>“On 11th August, 2018, Amit Shah (accused) had made certain defamatory statements against Abhishek Banerjee(Complainant) at the ‘Yuva Swabhiman Rally’ of the Bharatiya Janata Party, at Mayo Road Kolkata,” stated Basu in the release.</p>.<p>The statement quoted Shah accusing the TMC MP of being involved in corruption. Banerjee is the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.</p>.<p>“English translation: “Narada, Sharda, Rose Valley, syndicate’s corruption. Nephew’s corruption. A series of corruption has been carried out by Mamata ji...” the statement said.<br /><br /><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/west-bengal-polls-2-mps-3-mlas-skip-cm-mamata-banerjees-meet-spark-speculation-953018.html" target="_blank">West Bengal Polls: 2 MPs, 3 MLAs skip CM Mamata Banerjee's meet, spark speculation</a></strong></p>.<p>“English translation: “...The residents of the villages in Bengal. Has the money reached your village? Please say loudly. Has the money reached your village? Where did it go? Where? Modi ji had sent it. Where did Rs. 3,59,000 crores go? This has been gifted to the nephew and the syndicate. This has been sacrificed at the altar of corruption by the Trinamool Congress,” it added.</p>.<p>It also stated that Shah’s remarks were “widely published and circulated” all over the country and in various newspapers. The statement further stated that a criminal complaint was filed on August 28, 2018 under Section 500 of the IPC ( punishment for defamation) and cognizance was taken on August 28,2018.</p>.<p>“Today the Learned Magistrate Special Court, West Bengal (MP’s and MLA’s cases) had issued a summon upon Amit Shah to appear before the learned court on 22 February 22, 2021,” the statement said.</p>.<p>Reacting to the development, state BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said that “Whether Amit Shah would appear in court in person will be decided by lawyers. We will respond to this legally.”</p>
<p>A special court for MPs and MLAs in West Bengal on Friday summoned Union Home Minister Amit Shah to appear before it in person or through a lawyer on February 22, 2021. The summon was issued in relation to a defamation case filed against Shah by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee.</p>.<p>According to a statement issued by Banerjee’s lawyer Sanjay Basu, Shah had made “certain defamatory statements” against Banerjee at a BJP rally in Kolkata.</p>.<p>“On 11th August, 2018, Amit Shah (accused) had made certain defamatory statements against Abhishek Banerjee(Complainant) at the ‘Yuva Swabhiman Rally’ of the Bharatiya Janata Party, at Mayo Road Kolkata,” stated Basu in the release.</p>.<p>The statement quoted Shah accusing the TMC MP of being involved in corruption. Banerjee is the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.</p>.<p>“English translation: “Narada, Sharda, Rose Valley, syndicate’s corruption. Nephew’s corruption. A series of corruption has been carried out by Mamata ji...” the statement said.<br /><br /><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/west-bengal-polls-2-mps-3-mlas-skip-cm-mamata-banerjees-meet-spark-speculation-953018.html" target="_blank">West Bengal Polls: 2 MPs, 3 MLAs skip CM Mamata Banerjee's meet, spark speculation</a></strong></p>.<p>“English translation: “...The residents of the villages in Bengal. Has the money reached your village? Please say loudly. Has the money reached your village? Where did it go? Where? Modi ji had sent it. Where did Rs. 3,59,000 crores go? This has been gifted to the nephew and the syndicate. This has been sacrificed at the altar of corruption by the Trinamool Congress,” it added.</p>.<p>It also stated that Shah’s remarks were “widely published and circulated” all over the country and in various newspapers. The statement further stated that a criminal complaint was filed on August 28, 2018 under Section 500 of the IPC ( punishment for defamation) and cognizance was taken on August 28,2018.</p>.<p>“Today the Learned Magistrate Special Court, West Bengal (MP’s and MLA’s cases) had issued a summon upon Amit Shah to appear before the learned court on 22 February 22, 2021,” the statement said.</p>.<p>Reacting to the development, state BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said that “Whether Amit Shah would appear in court in person will be decided by lawyers. We will respond to this legally.”</p>
