Thiruvananthapuram, 05 April (H.S.): K. C. Venugopal, AICC General Secretary and Member of Parliament, has filed a defamation complaint against Haryana native Gaurav Kumar, accusing him of making “baseless and malicious allegations” with political motives ahead of the Assembly elections.

The complaint has been filed before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Alappuzha. Venugopal alleged that the accusations were fabricated as part of a deliberate attempt to tarnish his long-standing public image and credibility.

According to the complaint, the allegations relate to the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections but surfaced only in 2026, raising suspicions about their timing. Venugopal pointed out that the issue gained traction through a press conference and widespread media coverage, including reports on Kairali News, as well as across social media platforms.

He further stated that a formal complaint had already been submitted to the State Police Chief on February 23, 2026, regarding the alleged dissemination of false information. Despite issuing a legal notice earlier, neither a response nor a retraction was received from the accused, prompting the legal action under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Venugopal has also alleged that the campaign against him is part of a larger conspiracy aimed at undermining the Congress-led UDF’s prospects in the ongoing elections. He maintained that the accusations were strategically timed as the election campaign reached a critical phase.

The original allegation, made by Gaurav Kumar and his wife, former Haryana Mahila Congress state general secretary Suchitra Devi, claimed that Venugopal had accepted a bribe in exchange for a party ticket during the Haryana Assembly polls. Kumar had asserted that he possessed documentary evidence to support the claim.

Rejecting the charges outright, Venugopal reiterated that the complaint is politically motivated and intended to damage his reputation built over decades of public service.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman