HC restrains state BJP president from making such statements

The Calcutta high court restrained state BJP president Dilip Ghosh from making statements through which any imputations are made that Abhishek Banerjee or his family members had any relation with K D Singh or that Abhishek Banerjee or his family members are a relative of Singh.

Justice Soumen Sen on Monday passed the order restricting Ghosh from making such comments on Banerjee. The injunction application came up for hearing before Justice Sen on Monday.

On March 27, Ghosh in a press conference had said that K D Singh was the "khur sashur" (uncle-in-law) of Abhishek Banerjee. Several television channels aired the content and on March 28,several newspapers carried the news.

After being informed about the matter, Banerjee immediately issued a cease-and-desist letter through his advocate Sanjay Basu protesting against such false statements. He also clarified that neither he nor his family members have any relation with K D Singh. He also requested Ghosh not to make such statements and demanded unconditional written apology within 72 hours from the receipt of the letter.

But Ghosh did not tender any apology and gave only an evasive reply which did not deny the statement made by him.

This had prompted Banerjee to file a defamation suit and an injunction application was filed before the High Court against Ghosh.

The matter earlier appeared for hearing on April 24 when the court passed an interim order in this regard restraining Ghosh from making such comments.

The court also directed Ghosh to file an affidavit in opposition to the injunction petition within May 15, 2017. The matter was fixed for further consideration on June 19, 2017 but Ghosh failed to comply with such directions by not filing his affidavit in opposition till date, though the court had given a notice to appear.