Overview
- West Bengal Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari moved the Alipore civil court seeking Rs 100 crore in damages after his defamation notice drew no reply.
- Mamata Banerjee had publicly alleged that coal-scam proceeds were routed through Adhikari to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a claim Adhikari rejects.
- In a separate case, the Calcutta High Court granted Adhikari interim protection from coercive action over an FIR on allegedly derogatory remarks, with the investigation to continue.
- The court allowed investigators to question Adhikari virtually and set the next hearing for February 6, declining to quash the FIR at this stage.
- Recent Enforcement Directorate searches at I-PAC premises preceded the exchange of allegations that escalated into the defamation action.