Mungantiwar files defamation case against Nirupam

Senior Maharashtra minister Sudhir Mungantiwar on Thursday filed a criminal defamation complaint against Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam over allegations made by Nirupam following the killing of man-eater tigress Avni.

Mungantiwar filed the complaint in the judicial magistrate's court in Chandrapur near here, said the minister's lawyer Kartik Shukul.

Nirupam, in a press conference on November 10, had made several baseless allegations against the BJP leader, he said.

Mungantiwar, who holds the forest portfolio, had come under severe criticism after tigress Avni, who had reportedly killed over a dozen people in Yavatmal district, was shot dead on government orders.

Advocate Shukul said that Nirupam had levelled several false allegations against Mungantiwar including that the BJP leader was part of international syndicates involved in wildlife trade and during his tenure there has been large-scale deforestation in the state.

Mungantiwar has sought action against him for defamation, he said.

The court is likely to decide Friday whether it should issue a summons to Nirupam, he said.