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Ex-MP Singh claimed that Hooda paid Rs 500 crore monthly to former UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi during his tenure as Chief Minister.

Kolkata/Chandigarh, July 16,UPDATED:11.50AM

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has sent a legal notice to former BJP MP Arjun Singh from West Bengal over an alleged defamatory statement in which Singh claimed that Hooda paid Rs 500 crore monthly to former UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi during his tenure as Chief Minister.

The controversial remark was made during a media interaction in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, on July 8, where Arjun Singh alleged that Hooda had confessed to sending massive sums of money each month to retain his position.

The Allegation

In a video widely circulated on social media and news platforms, Arjun Singh is heard saying:“There used to be a CM of Haryana belonging to the Congress. It was some time ago — what is his name? Ah, yes, Hooda, Bhupinder Hooda. One day I went to meet him, and he told me that if he ever failed to send Rs 500 crore to Sonia Gandhi on the 30th of every month, he would have lost his job.”

The comment, made in a seemingly offhand manner, sparked outrage, particularly among Congress leaders and Hooda’s supporters. Hooda, who only recently came to know of the statement through friends, well-wishers, and social media, has termed it “baseless, reckless, and defamatory.”

Hooda’s Response: “Malicious and Fabricated”

Hooda’s legal team, in the notice, has demanded a public apology, complete retraction, and wide publication of the withdrawal. The notice accuses Singh of causing “serious and irreparable damage” to Hooda’s reputation, built over decades of public service.“This baseless and reckless remark has spread rapidly, much like wildfire, and has inflicted serious and irreparable damage to my client’s (Hooda’s) hard-earned reputation,” the notice states.“Such a malicious attack on his integrity is both deeply unjust and profoundly injurious.”

Dismissing the claim outright, Hooda clarified that he never had any personal interaction with Arjun Singh. He further highlighted that the alleged conversation lacked any specific date, year, or location, undermining its credibility.“The absence of even the year of the alleged meeting exposes its fabricated and malicious nature,” the notice adds.

Legal Action Threatened

If Arjun Singh fails to issue a public apology and withdraw the statement, Hooda has warned of civil and criminal proceedings.

The development comes amid heightened political rhetoric and internal realignments in both the Congress and BJP. While Arjun Singh was once seen as a rising figure in West Bengal politics, he has been relatively inactive in recent months.

So far, Arjun Singh has not responded publicly to the legal notice.