Prakash Raj slaps legal notice on Mysuru MP Pratap Simha for defamation

Multi-lingual actor launches campaign against troll vandalism

Multi-lingual actor Prakash Raj has slapped a legal notice on Mysuru-Kodagu BJP MP Pratap Simha for making defamatory statements against him on social media.

The actor has also launched a campaign on troll vandalism with the hashtag # troll vandalism.

He said, "Simha posted statements terming me as a villain in real life and claimed  I was running behind a dancer when my  wife was grieving the death of our  five-year-old son.  He said that I change my name and identity according to my convenience. These posts have deeply hurt me. I have decided to slap a legal notice on him  as there should be an end to such trolls," Raj told reporters  on Thursday.

"Simha  is a serial offender. He even made derogatory remarks when late H S Mahadeva Prasad's wife Geetha contested the by-election to the Gundlupet Assembly constituency,"  he said.

Prakash Raj  clarified that he didn't want any money from the MP as compensation.

"Simha should  apologise  in public  for his posts. He should confess  that  he  committed a mistake and remove  posts from all his social media accounts,"  he said.

"I will resort to criminal action against  Simha  if he doesn't respond to my notice," the actor said.

To a question, Raj clarified, "It's a notice by an individual against an individual. I am not targeting any political party, group or leader."

The actor stated that trolling was common in all political parties and groups. Trolling influenced, instigated  and provoked  innocent people and a movement was needed against such activities.

On the controversy surrounding Hindi movie Padmavati, he said: "Everybody has a right to protest, but I am concerned about the way in which protests are being organised.  Statements  like cutting  the  nose, beheading artistes and chopping off a finger for pointing fingers at Modi are terrifying."

"Four states have banned the release and screening of  Padmavati  before the Supreme Court  can take a call on the issue.  Even challenging the  Supreme Court  is a dangerous development," he said.

Prakash Raj said he wasn't terrorised by such trolls, but wanted to be a voice for those who were victims of troll vandalism.