At the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Delhi, Neelam Gorhe made a controversial statement suggesting that in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), offering two Mercedes cars could secure a leadership position. This remark has sparked strong reactions from the Thackeray group, which has now taken legal action against Gorhe.
Following Gorhe's statement, the Thackeray faction aggressively responded, questioning how many Mercedes she had offered to secure her four-term membership in the Legislative Council. The controversy escalated when Sushma Andhare, a leader from the Thackeray group, sent a legal notice to Neelam Gorhe through lawyer Asim Sarode, accusing her of defaming Uddhav Thackeray and tarnishing his image.
According to The Indian Express, the notice states that Gorhe's comments were defamatory and misleading, creating a false impression that key positions in the party were granted based on financial contributions rather than merit. The notice further argues that such statements, made on a prestigious platform like the Sahitya Sammelan, have damaged Uddhav Thackeray’s reputation.
The legal notice demands that Gorhe provide evidence to support her claims, including registration numbers of the alleged Mercedes cars gifted and the names of party members who supposedly received posts in exchange. The notice also condemns her for using a literary conference to target the Thackeray faction unnecessarily.
Additionally, the organizers of the conference have expressed their displeasure over Gorhe’s remarks. The notice concludes by calling her statements insulting, defamatory, and an attempt to create unwarranted controversy.