Kolkata, 19 February (H.S.) : Event organiser Tanay Shastri has issued a legal notice to Bengali actress and former Trinamool Congress MP Mimi Chakraborty, alleging defamation and seeking Rs 20 lakh in compensation. Shastri claimed that Chakraborty’s complaint in a harassment case had tarnished his reputation, prompting the notice demanding either an apology and payment or the initiation of a defamation lawsuit.

Shastri stated that Chakraborty was paid Rs 2.65 lakh to perform at an event in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas last month. According to him, she failed to arrive on time, and he politely asked her to leave the stage. He alleged that she later lodged a police complaint against him without cause, which led to his judicial custody and reputational damage.

Chakraborty, who was scheduled as the final performer of the evening, had claimed that she was removed from the stage because the event was not permitted to continue past midnight and accused Shastri of harassment. In response, Shastri filed a counter-complaint, maintaining that she had not arrived at the scheduled time and that he had not harassed her.

During the investigation, Shastri and two associates were arrested on charges of obstructing the police probe. He spent over a week in judicial custody before being granted bail on February 11. The defamation notice marks the beginning of what could become another legal confrontation between the two parties.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh