Mumbai, Jun 11 (The Hindu): Kirit Somaiya, the BJP MP from Mumbai North-East, on Friday filed a defamation suit against Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana , its editor and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and printer-publisher Rajendra Bhagwat for carrying articles allegedly tarnishing his image. Somaiya has demanded Rs one crore in damages.

He has made Kalpana Inamdar, who had made some allegations against Somaiya t a press conference, a defendant in his suit. The allegations were carried in the Saamana articles, and the suit will come up before the Bombay High Court.

Though BJP and Shiv Sena are ruling partners, their relationship is strained. Mr. Somaiya says in the suit that the articles published on May 15 and 21, contained “baseless, shocking and defamatory” statements against him.

Ms. Inamdar had alleged that Mr. Somaiya, through his wife, ‘grabbed’ a Slum Rehabilitation Authority Project. He claims to have a letter from SRA saying he or his family have no connection with any of its projects. Ms. Inamdar had alleged that Mr. Somaiya and his wife invested black money in various companies in the names of his relatives.