8 Months On, BJP’s Amit Malviya Likely To Continue Case Against Santanu Sinha For Viral 2024 Facebook Post
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Sources in Malviya’s legal team say they have filed a counter affidavit, arguing that merely deleting a post after making unsubstantiated and defamatory claims is not a sufficient remedy and that the trial must proceed
On June 8, 2024, BJP’s Bengal unit co-incharge Amit Malviya (in pic) sent a legal notice to Santanu Sinha. (X @amitmalviya)
It has been nearly a year but, for Hindu Samhati leader Santanu Sinha, the legal trouble over an unsubstantiated social media post containing serious allegations is yet to subside.
Sinha, who had made slanderous allegations against BJP leader Amit Malviya, has submitted a sworn affidavit in Delhi High Court, confirming that he has deleted the original and subsequent defamatory Facebook posts and is seeking the quashing of the criminal case lodged against him on the grounds that he has tendered an unconditional apology.
However, sources in Malviya’s legal team say they have filed a counter affidavit, arguing that merely deleting a post after making unsubstantiated and defamatory claims is not a sufficient remedy and that the trial must proceed.
On June 8, 2024, BJP’s Bengal unit co-incharge Malviya sent a legal notice to Sinha. However, soon after receiving the notice, Sinha made matters worse by saying the post was “just to caution” Malviya.
The latest affidavit seeking quashing, however, harps on the fact that the controversial posts stand deleted and reminds of Sinha’s alleged association with the saffron outfit. “That, as submitted on oath before this Hon’ble Court on 28.01.2025, the Petitioner has deleted the posts dated 30.08.2024 and 04.09.2024 (Annexure R/2 and R/3 to the reply affidavit) to put a quietus to the issue. Further, the Petitioner being a devoted member of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) does not want to cause any unwanted harm to the party. It is hereby stated that the Facebook posts dated 30.08.2024 and 04.09.2024 stands deleted,” it reads.