Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte has filed a complaint against Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar for defaming him by releasing one audio clip and alleging that he was collecting ‘Sopte tax’.
“GPCC President is doing this out of frustration, the voice in the clip is not mine; it has been doctored, and all the allegations are baseless. The audio clip is fake. Chodankar only does this for attention and nothing else,” said Sopte after filing a complaint with the DGP of Goa Police
Sopte, in the complaint letter, stated that Girish Chodankar has at malafide intent and to take political vengeance, addressed a press briefing wherein he has published a voice recording claiming that I have asked for financial favours from an unknown person.
“I state that my depiction in a denigrate, derogatory manner is done by the said Girish Chodankar with sole purpose and objective of maligning my image, and disparaging the character, identity, repute, integrity and in the said process causing irreparable damage to the reputability that I share in public life,” Sopte added.
The undersigned also stated that the publication of this content has brought disrepute to his stature of high respectability and standing in public life being an elected Member of the Goa Legislative Assembly, as also coupled with the fact that I enjoy a large scale support base among masses, the gravity of the commission of the said offence and its implications cannot be undermined or trivialized.
“I outrightly deny any involvement whatsoever in the alleged audio recording being published by Girish Chodankar, and I call upon your good authority to investigate the authenticity of the same to clear the cloud of ambiguity created against my reputation,” the complaint states.
Meanwhile, Sopte has demanded that an FIR be filed against Chodankar under the relevant provisions of the Criminal Procedure code, 1973 for committing the offence of the nature of defamation, inciting hatred, committing cyber defamation.