Shimla, May 1
A significant legal dispute has arisen in Himachal Pradesh, revolving around allegations of defamation and bribery within the political landscape. Sudhir Sharma, a Congress rebel and BJP candidate contesting the bye election from Dharmshala, has taken legal action against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
Sharma filed a defamation suit in the Himachal Pradesh High Court, accusing the Chief Minister of publicly defaming him by alleging that he was “sold” to the BJP during a crucial Rajya Sabha election.
The High Court swiftly responded to Sharma’s legal move by issuing notices to Chief Minister Sukhu regarding the defamation suit. In addition to the defamation suit filed in the High Court, Sharma also pursued legal action by filing a criminal defamation suit against Chief Minister Sukhu in the Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Dharamshala.
The complainent also seek to restrain the Chief minister and others to make such allegations in the future course of pendency of the suit.
Senior counsel Sudhir Thakur, representing Sharma’s legal team, confirmed that the defamation suit was filed against Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and notices were duly issued by the court in response to the civil complaint.
The crux of Sharma’s legal action lies in the accusation made by Chief Minister Sukhu, wherein he publicly insinuated that Sharma had accepted bribes amounting to crores of rupees. This accusation of bribery, as Sharma’s legal counsel asserts, has caused significant damage to Sharma’s reputation and integrity.
Consequently, Sharma is seeking redress through the legal system, aiming to restore his name and seek compensation for the alleged harm caused by Sukhu’s statements.
The defamation suit filed by Sharma demands damages tunes to Rs 1.05 crore, reflecting the seriousness of the accusations leveled against him by the Chief Minister.
These accusations are deemed frivolous and baseless by Sharma and his legal team, who are determined to clear his name and uphold his integrity in the public eye. This legal confrontation underscores the contentious nature of politics, particularly in the context of election campaigns and power struggles.
Allegations of bribery and defamation can tarnish reputations and impact electoral outcomes significantly.
As such, the outcome of this legal battle will not only affect the individuals involved but also have broader implications for political discourse and accountability in Himachal Pradesh.
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