In a significant escalation of political tensions in Maharashtra, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has initiated legal action against former minister and Bahujan Republican Ekta Manch (BREM) president Sulekha Kumbhare. The minister has served her with a hefty defamation notice demanding Rs 5 crore in damages and a public retraction of statements he claims are malicious.
The Core Allegations and Legal Demand
Through his lawyer, Ujwal Phasate, Minister Bawankule issued the notice in response to a press conference held by Kumbhare on December 4 at the Nagpur Press Club. In that conference, Kumbhare leveled a series of serious accusations against the minister. She alleged that Bawankule supported wealthy candidates in elections, shielded unaccounted money, and encouraged bogus voting practices. She reportedly referred to one of his associates as a 'dalal' (middleman).
Furthermore, Kumbhare linked Bawankule to Parth, the son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, in connection with the Pune land scam. She went on to declare the minister 'unfit to hold a constitutional post' and demanded his immediate resignation.
Minister's Rebuttal and Strict Ultimatum
Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who also holds the portfolio of guardian minister for Nagpur and Amravati districts, has categorically rejected all these claims. The notice states that the allegations are 'entirely false, unfounded, and misleading'. It argues that Kumbhare's widely telecast comments have severely damaged his reputation in both political and personal spheres.
The legal notice presents a clear set of demands for Sulekha Kumbhare:
- Immediately retract all her defamatory remarks.
- Stop the further circulation of these allegations across all media platforms.
- Issue an unconditional public apology.
- Publish a corrigendum in all outlets where the allegations were made.
- Pay Rs 5 crore as compensation for the damage caused to his reputation.
Kumbhare has been given a 15-day deadline to comply with these demands. The notice warns that failure to do so will result in the initiation of both civil and criminal defamation proceedings against her. It explicitly states that she will bear full legal and financial liability.
Background of the Political Rift
This legal confrontation did not occur in a vacuum. It stems from a recent political rupture between the BJP and the BREM, who were formerly allies. The relationship soured after the BJP decided to contest independently in the Kamptee Municipal Council elections, leading to direct clashes between the two parties.
During her now-controversial press meet, Sulekha Kumbhare also made broader political statements. She accused the BJP of 'murdering democracy' and vowed that her party would never again form an alliance with them. She also supported Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's charges of vote theft, claiming they were 'proven in Kamptee,' and criticized the Election Commission for losing its independence.
The serving of this high-value defamation notice marks a sharp turn from political rivalry to a legal battlefield, setting the stage for a contentious fight that could have significant repercussions for the political landscape in Nagpur and wider Maharashtra.
