New Delhi, November 22, 2025
In a escalating political showdown ahead of the Maharashtra assembly election results, BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde has fired off legal notices to three senior Congress leaders, demanding an "unconditional apology" for what he calls "false and malicious" accusations of vote-buying. Tawde has warned that failure to comply within 24 hours could trigger criminal defamation charges and a massive ₹100 crore civil damages suit.
The notices, dispatched on Friday, target Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate. They stem from explosive claims made by Congress on the eve of the November 20 polling in Maharashtra, where the party alleged Tawde was caught distributing ₹5 crore in cash to sway voters in the Nallasopara constituency.
Tawde, addressing a press conference in Mumbai, expressed deep personal hurt over the allegations, describing them as a "fabricated story" designed to tarnish his reputation and the BJP's image. "The Congress only believes in spreading lies, and this incident is proof of the party's low-level politics aimed at damaging me and my party's image," he stated, emphasizing that no cash was recovered during investigations by the Election Commission or police. He further accused the recipients of the notice of rushing to media without verifying facts, saying, "You have deliberately, with the sole intention of damaging the reputation of our client, fabricated the story of money distribution."
The controversy ignited on November 19 when activists from the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA), a regional outfit, stormed a hotel room in Vasai-Virar, a Mumbai suburb, where Tawde was reportedly present. Viral videos showed BVA workers shouting slogans and waving ₹500 notes, claiming they had busted a BJP operation to influence votes. While the BVA could not produce direct evidence linking Tawde to the cash, the footage left the BJP on the backfoot just hours before polls.
Congress leaders wasted no time amplifying the claims. Shrinate took to social media, posting videos and questioning the BJP's "financial muscle" in elections, while Gandhi and Kharge echoed the accusations during campaign speeches, labeling it a "blatant abuse of power." The party framed the incident as emblematic of the BJP's alleged "moneybags politics," tying it to broader criticisms of electoral funding transparency.
In the legal notices, Tawde's counsel demands the apology be published prominently in at least three English and three regional-language newspapers, as well as on X (formerly Twitter), to "restore his reputation." Non-compliance, the notices warn, will lead to proceedings under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal defamation, alongside a civil suit seeking ₹100 crore in compensation for "irreparable harm" to his personal and professional standing.
As of Saturday evening, there was no immediate response from the Congress leadership. Party sources indicated that senior figures were huddling in Delhi to strategize, with one insider dismissing the notices as "desperate election-time bluster." Shrinate, when reached by reporters, quipped, "Truth hurts those who fear it," but declined further comment.
The timing couldn't be more charged, with Maharashtra's vote count scheduled for November 23. The BJP, leading the Mahayuti alliance, has already faced scrutiny over the incident, with opposition parties like Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) piling on. BJP insiders, however, rallied behind Tawde, with senior leaders like Devendra Fadnavis calling the allegations an "Opposition's design to undermine our campaign."
Legal experts view the move as a classic preemptive strike in India's hyper-partisan political arena, where defamation suits have become a favored tool. "This isn't just about personal redress; it's about narrative control ahead of results," observed constitutional lawyer Sanjay Hegde. Similar high-profile cases, including Rahul Gandhi's own 2023 conviction in a 'Modi surname' defamation row (later stayed), underscore the judiciary's growing role in settling political scores.
On X, the hashtag #TawdeLegalNotice trended Saturday, drawing polarized reactions. BJP supporters hailed it as a stand against "Congress lies," while critics mocked it as "threats from the ruling party." One viral post from a BJP handle read: "Apologize or pay up—truth has a price tag now!"
As the 24-hour deadline ticks down, all eyes are on whether Congress blinks or doubles down, potentially turning this into a courtroom battle that could overshadow the election verdict.
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