JORHAT, Nov 21 - Former BJP Jorhat district president Santanu Pujari has filed a criminal defamation case against Mariani Congress MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi and a private satellite TV news channel for making �false and malicious� allegations against him.
Pujari, who is the in-charge of the State BJP office in Guwahati, said that he has filed the defamation case at Jorhat Chief Judicial Magistrate�s (CJM) Court through his lawyers Gautam Choudhury and Rintu Goswami on Wednesday.
Pujari said that he has filed the case (CR No: 220/2019) under Sections 500 (punishment for defamation) and 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory) of the IPC against Kurmi and the news channel for damaging his public image and reputation.
Pujari said that few days ago Kurmi had made a �false and malicious� statement against him (Pujari) by stating that he (Pujari) was involved in alleged coal syndicate operating in the district.
Denying his involvement in any illegal activity, Pujari said false and mischievous charges made by the legislator against him and telecast of the same by the TV channel has severely harmed his public image and reputation.
He said that since tarnishing his public image and reputation was a criminal offence, he had approached the court for justice.
Pujari said he would also file a civil suit in the same court claiming compensation from the defendants for the damage caused to him in the public eye.
