Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has sent a legal notice for criminal and civil defamation to the BJP, PM Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah and its CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa for “intentionally and maliciously” making “false and defamatory statements against him”.

The notice lists “false” ads published or telecast by the BJP “casting aspersions on the character” of the CM and “harming the image of the Congress party”, Modi’s “ease of doing murder” remark, calling Siddaramaiah’s government as the “Sidha rupiah sarkar” and “10 per cent ki sarkar” during poll rallies, among the charges.

Alleging all the acts and speeches to be “politically motivated”, the notice demands an unconditional public apology, calls for Rs 100 crore defamation charges and notes that “you have jointly and severally committed libel and offences punishable under Sections 499, 500, 501 and 502 of the Indian Penal Code”.