Pramod Madhwaraj files defamation of Rs 10 crore against T J Abraham
Udupi: The district minister in-charge Pramod Madhwaraj filed defamation case against Social activist T J Abraham for making false allegations against Pramod Madhwaraj and some employees of the Syndicate Bank, saying that the bank had sanctioned Rs 193 crore loan to the minister by mortgaging property worth just Rs 1.1 crore.
Speaking to the media, Madhwaraj said, “I have sent the legal notice against T J Abraham through my advocate M Shantharam Shetty and asked him to reply to my notice within 3 days”.
In the Notice, it is stated that the allegations made by Abraham are highly defamatory and derogatory in nature. Pramod has sought a compensation of Rs 10 Crore from Abraham for allegedly defaming him through the Media.
Further, the advocate of Pramod stated that the allegations made by Abraham is obscure and imaginary, dirty and scandalous rumours which are being spread in the social media. This has resulted in seriously harming the reputation of Pramod before the public in general and an impression is being formed in the minds of the general public that he had an intention to defraud the bank and had managed to do so by making use of his position as a minister in the State Government.
Pramod Madhwaraj had obtained a loan from the syndicate ban for his business by giving adequate securities in compliance with the rules and regulations of the bank. The immovable properties referred/ alleged by Abraham were one amongst other securities offered to the bank for the credit facilities availed by him.
Pramod Madhwaraj has always been a great philanthropist even before becoming the MLA and still continues to be the same. He is being held in high esteem in and around Udupi and also Karnataka. He was on the list of politicians paying the highest income tax. It is known to the general public that he was even honoured and felicitated by Dilip Kumar the then chief commissioner of Income Tax, Panaji in the function named Top Taxpayers Meet 2011 where top 20 taxpayers of Mangaluru Commissionerate were honoured. He has also been recognised as one of the Best performers of all the MLAs of Karnataka as per a survey conducted by the news dailies.
Abraham has made false and reckless allegations out of his ignorance of the real facts. Abraham being an outsider to Udupi locality has acted and danced to the tune of certain segments of the two politicians who have malicious intentions against Pramod. Before making such reckless, improper and false allegations Abraham should have introspected himself and should have understood where he stands. The Supreme Court had imposed a fine of Twenty five lakhs for baseless PIL in 2017. He is also facing criminal charges before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, at Bengaluru wherein a non-bailable warrant had been issued against him which had subsequently led to his arrest and detention in custody.
The allegations made by Abraham have been published with the mischievous intention of harassing Pramod and spoiling his political career, which unfortunately he has succeed in doing by damaging his hard-earned reputation and good image in the eyes of the right-minded people of the society.
The allegations of the false news item has also caused both mental as well as physical agony to Pramod Madhwaraj, his family members, party leaders and followers alongside facing social ostracism because of Abraham’s wrongful criminal act. The damages for the act of defamation committed by Abraham against Pramod which he suffered since the publication of the news item and thereafter spreading the same through different media platforms like TV Channels, WhatsApp, facebook, etc. Pramod is entitled to a sum of Rs 10 crores as damages for the act of defamation committed by Abraham. Pramod has also demanded to tender an unconditional apology in writing and also publish the true and correct facts in the newspapers by calling upon a press meet, within 3 days of receipt of the court notice. In the event of Abraham failing to do so Pramod shall be constrained to initiate appropriate proceeding both civil and criminal seeking monetary damages and initiating a criminal prosecution for committing an offence punishable.
Recently Abraham had claimed that Syndicate Bank, Malpe branch, had sanctioned multiple loans to Madhwaraj by mortgaging his 3.08-acre land in Uppuru village, Brahmavar Hobli, Udupi district.
The total value of the pledged 3.08 acres of land was just Rs 1,10,80,000 and the bank sanctioned Rs 193 crore loan, he said in a complaint.