Nawsad Siddique files defamation suit against Saokat Molla over '30 crore' jibe

 ISF MLA Nawsad Siddique has filed a defamation lawsuit against Trinamool Congress MLA Saokat Molla. The legal action, which was initiated at the Bankshall Court on Monday, stems from explosive allegations made by Molla that Siddique had accepted a significant sum of money from a rival political party. This move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political friction between the two leaders, particularly in the context of the South 24 Parganas district.

The lawsuit was filed by Siddique and his lawyers at the Bankshall Court. Siddique explained the reason behind his decision, stating that Saokat Molla had made public claims that he had received ₹30 crore from the BJP. Siddique vehemently denied these allegations, calling them a deliberate attempt at slander and a malicious campaign to harm his reputation in the public domain. Instead of responding in a similar tone, he chose to use the legal route to seek accountability.

Siddique stated, "I cannot answer Saokat Molla's words with his own language. That is why I am responding in the language of the law. I am demanding that he prove his allegations in court—when, where, from whom, and in what denominations I received the money." This direct challenge, issued through the court, puts the onus on Molla to substantiate his claims, and Siddique expressed confidence that he will be proven innocent.

The ISF MLA further alleged that the defamation is a result of his refusal to join the ruling Trinamool Congress. He claimed that Molla had previously offered him a ministerial position and membership in the TMC. When he rejected the offer, he alleges that a series of false cases were filed against him. Siddique highlighted his personal struggle, mentioning that he has faced 19 false cases and was jailed for 42 days as part of a campaign to break his resolve.

Siddique believes that his targeting by the ruling party is a testament to his political impact. He questioned why he, as a solitary MLA, is being so heavily targeted while the BJP, with 77 MLAs, faces no such scrutiny. He posited that his continued resistance to the TMC's advances and his refusal to be silenced demonstrate the underlying political understanding between the TMC and the BJP.