Reliance Infra files Rs100-cr defamation case against AAP

Reliance Infrastructure on Tuesday filed a Rs100-crore defamation suit in the Bombay High Court against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had alleged the power company had overcharged consumers in Mumbai in collusion with the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC).

Justice S J Kathawala directed three representatives of the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP to be present in the court on 7 March, when the notice of motion prayed by the private power distribution firm would be heard.

The three party representatives are Anjali Damania, convenor, Maharashtra AAP; Preeti Sharma Menon, state secretary and Satish Jain, member of the state AAP.

The court noted that the trio was not present on Tuesday despite the plaintiffs serving notice to them. The judge asked them to be present on Friday without fail.

Last week, the AAP had taken pot shots at Rinfra in its battle against supposed corruption in the state's electricity sector. At a press conference in Mumbai, AAP furnished documents purportedly showing the manner in which Rinfra acquired benefits from the state but did not pass them on to the consumer.

The notice of motion prayed that the defendants be restrained from repeating the allegations of the Anil Ambani-led firm being involved in a "power scam".

The plaintiffs alleged the AAP office-bearers had made baseless and false allegations at a press conference here last month to mislead the people, thereby defaming the company.

AAP had accused RInfra and Tata Power of misrepresenting taxes and putting a burden of Rs434 crore on consumers in Mumbai over the last three years.

"Misrepresentation of taxes has surfaced in which both RInfra and Tata Power are involved, causing a burden of Rs. 434 crore on Mumbaikars in the past three years," Damania had said at the 27 February meet.

Both RInfra and Tata Power had strongly denied the charge the same day.