HC seeks BJP MP Somaiya's reply on defamation suit against him

Delhi High Court today sought the response of BJP MP Kirit Somaiya on a plea filed by Kanishka Singh, an aide of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, accusing the BJP leader of making false allegations against him in connection with real estate firm EMAAR-MGF and demanding Rs 10 crore as damages.
Justice Vipin Sanghi issued notice to Somaiya and asked for his reply on the defamation suit filed by Singh who has contended that he has no connection with EMAAR-MGF and has sought directions restraining the MP from connecting him in any manner with the real-estate company.
Singh, in his suit, has alleged that the BJP leader first made false allegations against him in 2010, in 2013 and again in April and May this year and despite sending legal notice for withdrawing the statements, nothing was done.

"The allegations have been made without just cause or excuse exposing the plaintiff (Singh) to contempt, ridicule and obloquy. It has injured his reputation within and outside politics and would have a tendency to lower the reputation of the plaintiff in the estimation of right thinking members of society," the plea, filed through advocate P S Sudheer, said.
According to Singh's suit, Somaiya made allegations connecting him to EMAAR-MGF as well as Guido Haschke, who is allegedly a middleman in AugustaWestland deal and a Director in the real-estate company.
Singh has said that he was not a director or a shareholder in the company, neither now nor in the past.

In his suit, Singh has also contended that Somaiya alleged that he was involved in the Commonwealth Games scam.
He claimed in his plea that he and his family have been estranged from the Rajiv Gupta family, "who are and/or have been the promoters, and/or share holders, and/or directors of EMAAR-MGF".