Bapat withdraws defamation case against Nawab Malik

Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Girish Bapat withdrew on Friday a defamation case filed against NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik over allegations of 'Tur Dal scam' in 2015.

Bapat had dragged Malik to the court here after the NCP leader alleged a scam of Rs 2,000 crore related to seized stocks of Tur Dal.

Malik had alleged that the government returned the seized stocks to hoarders who sold the Dal back to people at a steep rate of Rs 200 per kg.

In his statement Friday, Bapat said the charges were baseless. "The total seized stock was worth Rs 540 crore, of which Tur Dal stock was worth Rs 140 crore, so to allege a Rs 2,000 crore scam was baseless," said the BJP minister.

Malik filed a written submission before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) S M A Sayyad here that there was no corruption in the Tur Dal seizure, following which he (Bapat) withdrew the defamation complaint, the minister said.

Both Bapat and Malik were present in the court Friday.

Speaking to reporters, Malik said his allegations were not against Bapat as an individual.

"I submitted to the court that the allegations were against the government, not an individual. After that he did not drag out the issue and withdrew the case," the NCP leader said.