250-Crore Legal Battle: Pyare Khan Takes VHP and Bajrang Dal Members to Court

Maharashtra State Minority Commission Chairman Pyare Zia Khan has filed a ?250-crore defamation suit against five office-bearers and workers associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, seeking ?50 crore in damages from each accused.

Senior Sessions Judge A.D. Kardbhajan has issued notices to all five respondents.

The case stems from a protest held on September 28, 2024, at Badkas Chowk in Nagpur, where VHP and Bajrang Dal activists allegedly raised slogans and displayed banners accusing Khan of having a suspicious meeting with gangster Abu Salem and supporting anti-national activities.

Khan has termed the allegations false, baseless and deliberately defamatory. He has also sought a ban on the publication and circulation of defamatory material, removal of related social media posts, reels and videos, and a public apology.

Advocates Anand Deshpande, Gaurang Bhake and Chetan Dongre represented Khan in the matter.