Legal notice issued over alleged defamatory remarks against CPI, C. Achutha Menon

A legal notice has been served to advocate Jija James Mathew Kandathil and a private news network for allegedly disseminating serious and unsubstantiated accusations against the Communist Party of India (CPI) and former Chief Minister C. Achutha Menon on a televised show. The notice was served by advocate M. Salahudeen, representing Rajaji Mathew Thomas, a member of CPI's national council and executive committee, and the Editor-in-Chief of Janayugom Publications Limited.

The legal notice alleges that Kandathil made baseless claims during a live broadcast on September 4, stating that the CPI had received a Madras office in exchange for renewing the Mullaperiyar agreement and that these benefits were obtained through deceiving the state's populace. Additionally, the notice asserts that Kandathil described Menon as "the most corrupt man."

The legal notice argues that these allegations lack any factual foundation and were intended to tarnish the public image of the CPI and Menon. It also claims that the statements were broadcast without proper fact-checking, possibly to increase the programme's social media reach through sensationalism. The notice demands the withdrawal of the allegations, deletion of the programme video and copies, a formal public apology, disclosure of any supporting documents, and a compensation payment of ₹1 crore.