Sushil Rinku serves notice on Punjab ex-CM Charanjit Channi, seeks Rs 5 cr for tarnishing image

Jalandhar, July 7

BJP leader and former AAP MP of Jalandhar Sushil Rinku today served a legal notice on former Chief Minister and Congress Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi.

Channi, during the Jalandhar West bypoll, had reportedly levelled allegations that Rinku was involved in gambling, lottery, drugs and other illegal trades.

Accusing the former CM of assassinating his character and tarnishing his image, Rinku has sought Rs 5 crore in damages from Channi.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Rinku said, “I joined the BJP due to some reasons. In the General Election, Channi was my rival candidate from the Congress. He had made allegations against me and I against him. But after Channi’s win, I congratulated him and the matter ended. But during the campaign, Channi again alleged that I was involved in gambling, lottery and drugs business. The allegations have hurt me, my family and relatives.”

Playing an audio clip of Channi, Rinku said, “He has made these allegations without any proof. When he was the CM, he praised me as an MLA. Now, his thinking has changed. I’ve sent a legal notice to him and will take the case to its logical end.”

The legal notice served by Rinku’s advocate on Channi states, “In that meeting (campaign meeting for Jalandhar West bypoll), while making statement to mediapersons, you (Channi) raised serious allegations against my client that he had been engaged in drug peddling, lottery trade, gambling, robbing, theft and snatching.” The notice states, “The allegations are absolutely false, baseless and without any evidence as neither Rinku was inolved in such activities, nor has he been booked for such crimes.”

Responding to the notice, Congress leader Channi said it was Rinku’s legal right to do so and he would respond accordingly.