Rajasthan political crisis: Sachin Pilot sends legal notice to Congress MLA Giriraj Malinga over bribery accusations

As the political crisis in Rajasthan rages on, Former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot on Tuesday sent a legal notice to Congress MLA Giriraj Singh Malinga for alleging that he was offered a bribe of Rs 35 crore to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).\

A statement released by Sachin Pilot's office stated that he has sued Giriraj Malinga over 'false and malicious statement' made by him in the press.

"Sources close to Sachin Pilot, ex-Deputy CM, have informed that he has served Giriraj Malinga MLA a legal notice for the false and malicious statement made by him to the press yesterday," the statement read.

Malinga told reporters that Sachin Pilot has been luring him with money to join the Bharatiya Janata Party since December last year.

"I had a discussion with Sachin Pilot. He spoke to me and said how much do you want. He told me Rs 35 crore. This has been happening since December, it is nothing new. I told them I cannot do this," Malinga told the reporters yesterday.

Countering the statement made by Malinga, Pilot said that he was at the receiving end of 'baseless and vexatious allegations' with an intent to 'malign' him. He further added that the entire controversy has been conjured up to 'redirect the narrative', and 'avoid addressing the main issue'.

"The narrative is being redirected to avoid addressing the main issue. I will be taking appropriate and strictest possible legal action against the MLA who was made to make these accusations. I am sure more such concocted allegations will be thrown at me to cause aspersions on my public image. But I shall be unfettered and remain firm in my beliefs and convictions," he said.

On the other hand, Rajasthan  High Court on Thursday ruled to defer action on disqualification notices to Pilot and 18 other rebel Congress MLAs till July 24. The court will pass a verdict on the matter on Friday. 

It is to be noted that a writ petition was filed byy Pilot and 18 other dissident Congress MLAs on July 17 challenging the disqualification notices issued to them by state Assembly Speaker CP Joshi. 

The latest in the series of political tensions in the state seems to have been triggered by machinations over alleged horse-trading of legislators. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who also heads the Rajasthan Home Ministry and thus law and order in the state, has repeatedly accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of offering crores to Congress MPs in an effort to destabilise the Congress government run by him. 

The controversy gained steam when the differences between Sachin Pilot and CM Ashok Gehlot came out in public.

Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot is unhappy with Gehlot, especially after the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan sent a notice to Pilot seeking his availability for recording his statement in connection with alleged attempts to destabilise state government. 

Pilot was sacked from the posts of Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and state PCC president on July 14.