New Delhi: Film producer and friend of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Sandip Ssingh, sent a legal notice to Republic TV and its editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami for alleged defamation and claimed 200 million rupees as compensation.
Ssingh reportedly claimed that Republic TV “defamed his image in public” and called him a “key conspirator” and “murderer” in the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.
The notice sent through lawyer Rajesh Kumar stated that the channel’s actions amount to defamation under section 499 of the Indian Penal Code, which is punishable under section 500 of the Code.
The notice has required the channel to “remove all malicious images, articles and broadcasts against Ssingh” and to “provide an unconditional public written / video apology.”
Ssingh told the India Times“Money alone cannot make up for the image and respect that I have lost in the last four months. I have fought for 20 years to build my reputation as a film producer and due to the smear campaign the channel launched against me every day, the funders of my future projects are retiring and the exhibitors and distributors of our new film, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they are worried about showing too many shows when they see my name attached. “
Ssingh said TOI that the legal notice is an attempt to rebuild his reputation and save himself from the trauma the channel has inflicted on him and his mother and sister.
Ssingh’s production company Legend Global Studio, created in 2015, has made films such as Bhoomi Y Sarbjit, plus the biopic about the prime minister. Thank goodness for the CBI investigation. I was hoping to regain my confidence and take the right step. “
The notice that was sent on Wednesday highlighted news broadcast by the channel “with the criminal intent to extort money.” “They have accused me of being a drug dealer, of being related to Dawood.”
The legal notice also reported that Republic ran a campaign with the hashtag #ArrestSandeepSsingh. “They put a hashtag asking for my arrest for 50 days in a row while their correspondents continued to stalk my car or try to enter my house. Why? It was not hidden! “said Ssingh, who claims to have known the Rajput for ten years.
“I met him when he was transitioning from television to film. Being Biharis we got along very well ”.
Ssingh also objected to the channel’s statement that he wanted to “flee to the UK” to escape the investigation, according to a report.
“Will [Goswami] go on air and apologize to me for 50 days? If he can’t, let’s fight the legal battle. “
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