Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Demands Compensation Over Defamation Claims
Legal Action Initiated by Mayor V.V. Rajesh
Photo: IANS
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 8: On Thursday, Mayor V.V. Rajesh of Thiruvananthapuram took a significant step by sending a legal notice to CPI(M) councillor S.P. Deepak, who also leads the Corporation LDF parliamentary party. Rajesh is demanding a compensation of Rs 5 crore, citing defamatory remarks that associate him with the alleged forgery of a councillor’s signature in official records.
The notice, prepared by advocate Senthil Kumar S., grants Deepak a period of 15 days to respond appropriately.
Rajesh has indicated that he will pursue both civil and criminal actions should Deepak fail to comply.
This controversy stems from accusations that the attendance of councillor R. Sugathan, who reportedly missed council meetings on February 26, March 11, and April 27, was inaccurately recorded through a forged signature.
Deepak has claimed that this forgery was executed at the Mayor’s office with Rajesh’s awareness and involvement.
In his notice, Rajesh has labeled these allegations as entirely false, malicious, and unfounded.
He accused Deepak of intentionally holding a press conference on October 4 to tarnish his reputation and undermine the integrity of the mayoral position.
Rajesh also criticized Deepak’s assertion that he had acquired a copy of the Corporation attendance register via the Right to Information Act, which allegedly revealed Sugathan’s forged signature.
The notice states that Deepak made these claims without providing any supporting evidence or documentation.
Additionally, it alleges that Deepak accused Rajesh of colluding with the BJP and RSS to manipulate Corporation proceedings and engage in misconduct.
Rajesh contended that these allegations have severely harmed his reputation and public image, especially as they have been widely circulated through various news outlets and social media platforms.
The notice further claims that Deepak’s statements are intended to hinder the development initiatives of the Corporation under Rajesh’s leadership, potentially demoralizing the officials and staff.
Rajesh emphasized his clean political history, stating that the allegations have led to humiliation, mental distress, and a tarnished reputation.
The notice concludes by warning that if Deepak does not remit the Rs 5 crore compensation within the stipulated 15 days, Rajesh will initiate legal proceedings to recover the amount along with associated costs.