Silchar MLA Dilip Paul likely to take legal action against news channel for ‘malicious’ report

Silchar MLA and former deputy speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly Dilip Kumar Paul is likely to take legal action against an Assam news channel DY365 for broadcasting a news story claiming Paul was involved in scams in Barak Valley.

Paul told reporters at a press conference at his residence in Silchar that a news-story was broadcasted on March 23, March 24 and March 25, which said he was involved in a syndicate related to betelnut-scam. That was a deliberate attempt to defame him, he said.

He said he had been in politics for the past many years and nobody could raise a finger on his honesty and integrity. He claimed the news report was “paid news” and a vicious attempt to defame him.

He said a notice was sent (by his advocate – Asamanja Biswas, advocate, District Bar Association, Silchar) to the news channel on Tuesday. Legal action will be initiated against the channel, if needed, he said.

Asked if he feels there are any scams in Cachar/Barak Valley, he said some evil elements exist in the society and they carry out corrupt practices. It is the Congress, which had created these evil elements and did corruption for seventy years. The BJP government has been constantly fighting to exterminate corruption and the goal will be achieved in the days ahead, he said.

Complaints related to scams like coal scam and betelnut-scam have poured in and news reports published too from various quarters from time to time for the past many years. The state government had also ordered for probes into the scams, however, the matter lost attention with time.

On contacted, Arup Nandi, a correspondent with DY365 in Silchar, said a reporter from the head office in Guwahati had visited here and collected and sent that news report on Paul’s involvement in scams.

The reporter (who did the news) or anyone else from the channel was not available for their reaction over the matter.

DY365, a unit of Brahmaputra Tele Productions Private Limited, is having three correspondents, including Nandi, in Barak Valley. The channel was launched in 2008.