Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's controversial brother-in-law Sanjay Singh Masani on Saturday accused Vyapam whistle-blower Dr Anand Rai of indulging in slander against his family. The case pertaining to tampering of hard-disk is pending in Supreme Court.
Rai, a government medical officer in Indore, had alleged in series of tweets that Sanjay Singh has invested over Rs 500 crores in film industry which is haven for black money holders. Rai had also alleged that brother-in-law of the chief minister had a bungalow worth Rs 40 crore on Sardesai Marg, Mumbai.
In a press conference called at Madhya Pradesh Tourism Corportation's Palash Hotel in Bhopal, Sanjay Singh clarified that he had nothing to do with his sister's husband who is the chief minister of state. He said that he would sue Rai if he did not retract from his statements and give a public written apology'.
Rai through his tweets had alleged that many Bollywood films were made tax-free in Madhya Pradesh. Sanjay Singh agreed that because of his relations in the film industry of Mumbai, he got opportunity to work in some movies. Most of these films were shot in Bhopal. Sanjay Singh has acted in movies like ''Singh Saab the Great'', ''Gali-Gali me chor hai'' and ''Revolver Rani'.'. He said he did not take any payment from these films in cash or cheque.
He said apart from being a film actor he was also an accredited journalist. “Is it a crime to be multi-talented and a relative of the chief minister? I demand justice from media fraternity which I have been an integral part since 2003. My family and me are pained by the baseless allegations of Dr Rai and I am going to Mumbai High Court against him,'' he said.
Rai is one among the three original petitioners in multi-crore Vyapam scam in Supreme Court. Rai has been very critical of chief minister Chouhan also. He has accused Chouhan of conniving in the Vyapam scam and destroying crucial evidence.
The tweets of Rai were tagged with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the RSS. Singh denied any inquiry being made from Prime Minister's Office or the RSS in this connection.
Represented by his advocate Rajesh Bindra, Sanjay Singh categorically denied the allegations saying '' I am not a film producer nor do I own a bungalow or flat at Sardesai Marg, Mumbai, worth Rs 40 crore. I am not a film financier and have nothing to do with the policy of state of Madhya Pradesh or film production in its territory''.
Earlier Sanjay Singh had been in news for becoming Commissioner of Scouts and Guides in Madhya Pradesh while he is a resident of Gondia, Maharashtra. Gondia is bordering Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh.
