Shiv Sena MLA Ravindra Waikar, Wife Manisha Waikar File 100 Crore Defamation Suit Against Ex-BJP MP Kirit Somaiya

Shiv Sena Legislator Ravindra Waikar and his wife Manisha Waiker have approached the Bombay High Court against the alleged defamatory statements made against them by ex BJP MP Kirit Somaiya.

A defamation suit has been filed by them against Somaiya seeking damages of 100 crores for alleged defamatory statements and causing irreparable damage and maligning their reputation.

Further, an ad interim relief has been sought for restraining Somaiya from further maligning their image in any manner during pendency of the present suit.

The defamation suit has been filed by the the Shiv Sena Leader and his wife, with reference to statements made by Somaiya on several social media platforms and news channels alleging non discovery and false disclosure or assets in declaration filed by Ravindra Waikar before Election Commission.

The Waikar's have argued that Somaiya's statements are grossly defamatory trying to portray an illusionary existence of several non existing profitable transactions for commercial benefits. They have stated that the statements made are untrue and were made with an intent to gain political mileage and leverage within his own political party.

According to the Waikar's, amidst the current issue surrounding Anvay Naik's suicide, these stories have been cooked up by Somaiya to divert focus from actual perpetrators. The 'baseless allegations' have been made to indirectly target the current Maharashtra leadership for his own political gain as he is losing presence in his own political party.

The plaintiffs in their suit have noted that statements were made by Somaiya with allegations against Waikar and Maharashtra's Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging that they obtained Anvay Naik's Korlai properties at price less than the market price but the same wasn't included in the election affidavit.

According to Waikar, Somaiya has made the following allegations against him leveling unsubstantiated and false statements on various platforms:

• Alleging non declaration of their assets and giving false information on oath before the election commission.

• Alleging that 19 bungalows have been built on the Korlai plot of land for commercial purposes

• Alleging that benefit of 25 crores was received by Waikar against BMC offering 200 crore development right to Mr Avinash Bhosale and Shahid Balwa.

The suit has also made note of statements made by Somaiya against Manisha Waikar and Rashmi Thackeray alleging possibility of their involvement in alleged 'torture and targeting' of Arnab Goswami.

According to the Waikar's , they have an extensive reputation and goodwill in the society and the statements made by Somaiya is an attempt to rope them in a ugly pool of false statements and such statements are also a modus operandi used by him against many others to cause harassment and unsettle them.

The plaintiffs have argued that Somaiya's statements has caused them serious unbearable mental agony, financial losses and irreparable loss to their reputations which they created through hard work, perseverance by spending their own sweat and blood. As a result of his statements and false rumours, the general public has started doubting their honesty.

According to the plaintiffs, Somaiya has attempted to falsely implicate them in a false criminal case filed before Revdanda police station. He has used words like 'shanka' to create doubts in minds of the masses.

The plaintiffs have therefore contended that their reputation has been maligned by the alleged defamatory statements and irreparable damage has been caused to them entitling them to a damage of 100 crores, along with interest at rate of 18% from date of suit until payment or realisation.