Lalan Singh files defamation suit against Aaj Tak and Dainik Jagran

Patna: Former JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' on Thursday filed a defamation suit against Aaj Tak and Dainik Jagran for their reports regarding his relinquishment of the top party post.

Lalan lodged the case at a court in Patna and shared the details on his social media accounts, accusing the media outlets of damaging his reputation and casting doubts on his "37-year-old relationship with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar."

मैंने माननीय मुख्यमंत्री जी की सहमति एवं अपनी स्वेच्छा से अध्यक्ष पद को छोड़ने व माननीय मुख्यमंत्री जी को अध्यक्ष पद सौंपने का निर्णय लिया था। लेकिन इस देश के कुछ मीडिया हाउस ने मेरे और श्री @NitishKumar जी के 37 वर्षों के रिश्ते पर अनर्गल खबरें छापकर प्रश्नचिन्ह लगाने का असफल… pic.twitter.com/Jj6sOLbHVS

— Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh (@LalanSingh_1) February 22, 2024

Kumar succeeded Lalan as the party president in December last. Lalan had said he wanted to step down from the post to focus more on his constituency of Munger ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Speculations were rife that Lalan had been made to step down because of perceived closeness to RJD president Lalu Prasad, with whom ties were snapped by Kumar a month ago.

Lalan referred to reports in a section of the media alleging that he had, while heading the party, called a meeting of JD(U) MLAs to plot the removal of Nitish Kumar as the chief minister, for the benefit of the RJD supremo's son Tejashwi Yadav, who was then the Deputy CM.

Lalan clarified, "Although I voluntarily relinquished the party president's post with the consent of Nitish Kumar, certain media outlets published unfounded reports. I issued legal notices in response." He added, "The replies I received to the legal notice were vague (gol matol). So, after seeking legal opinion, I filed defamation suits against the news channel and the newspaper before a court in Patna".