Speaker Gaddam Prasad issues legal notice seeking ₹10 crore damages

Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar sent a legal notice to former MLA and BRS leader Methuku Anand, alleging that defamatory and scandalous statements were made against him during press conferences held on January 14 and January 19.

The legal notice accused Mr Anand of making reckless, false and malicious allegations with the intention of damaging the Speaker’s reputation and undermining the dignity of the constitutional office he holds.

Citing mental agony, loss of reputation and damage to public standing, the Speaker sought ₹10 crore as compensation. The notice demands that Mr Anand, within seven days, withdraw all defamatory statements, issue an unconditional public apology through the same media platforms, pay the compensation, and submit a written undertaking refraining from making such allegations in the future.

According to the notice, Mr Anand allegedly claimed that the Speaker had dismissed disqualification petitions related to alleged defections of MLAs in exchange for bribes amounting to hundreds of crores. The notice categorically states that these allegations are false, baseless and per se defamatory. It also denies allegations that the affairs of the Vikarabad Municipality are being controlled by the Speaker’s family for personal gain, terming them as completely fabricated.