Sukhjinder Randhawa to sue Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann for defamation over Mukhtar Ansari allegations
Accuses Mann of character assassination over allegations of extending favors to Mukhtar Ansari
Chandigarh, July 3: Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, a leader of the Congress party, announced on Monday that he would file a defamation case against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for allegedly engaging in character assassination.
Randhawa strongly criticized Mann for accusing him of providing benefits to gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. Mann had stated on Sunday that he would recover the Rs 55 lakh spent on Ansari's comfortable stay in Rupnagar jail during the previous Congress government in the state from former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and then Jails Minister Randhawa.
Mann further stated that if Singh, who is now a BJP leader, and Randhawa, a Congress MLA, fail to pay the amount, their pensions and other benefits would be withheld.
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In response to Mann's accusation, Randhawa alleged that the chief minister had a tendency to engage in character assassination. He affirmed his decision to file a defamation case, expressing his unwillingness to tolerate humiliation.
Randhawa also challenged the chief minister to issue a recovery notice to him regarding the matter involving Mukhtar Ansari.
Mukhtar Ansari was held in Rupnagar jail from January 2019 to April 2021 in connection with an extortion case registered in Mohali. Following a directive from the Supreme Court, the Punjab government transferred the custody of the gangster-turned-politician to the Uttar Pradesh Police.
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