KSU leader serves legal notice on private firm MD in Kannur

Kerala Students Union (KSU) State vice-president P. Mohammed Shammas has initiated legal action against Muhammad Asif, managing director (MD) of Carton India Alliance, over what he described as false and defamatory allegations that he had demanded ₹5 lakh to settle a dispute.

The dispute comes amid a wider controversy surrounding Carton India Alliance and allegations of irregularities in contracts awarded during the tenure of former Kannur district panchayat president P.P. Divya. Shammas had raised allegations about the company’s links with Ms. Divya and the awarding of public works contracts, prompting the State government to authorise a vigilance investigation.

Mr. Shammas sent a legal notice to Asif through advocate E.R. Vinod, seeking ₹7 crore in compensation for the alleged damage to his reputation and the mental distress caused by the statements.

According to the notice, allegations circulated through visual and social media claimed that Mr. Shammas had sought ₹5 lakh to settle the matter. The notice categorically rejects the claims as false, baseless and defamatory.

Mr. Shammas has demanded that Asif withdraw the allegations and issue a public apology on the same visual and social media platforms through which they were circulated.

The legal notice warns that failure to comply with the demands within seven days of receiving it will prompt Mr. Shammas to initiate appropriate civil and criminal proceedings.