Mumbai, Nov. 12: Furious at a tweeted comparison with Arvind Kejriwal, Rakhi Sawant has gone after Congress leader Digvijaya Singh in a way that would earn the activist's envy.
Accusing Singh of "lewd and indecent" remarks, the reality TV star today approached the police seeking an FIR against him for defamation, outraging her modesty and IT Act offences. She also threatened Singh with a legal notice for Rs 50 crore in damages.
Singh had tweeted on Saturday: "A Columbia University student sent me a message which I can't resist tweeting with no offence to Rakhi Sawant. Arvind Kejriwal is like Rakhi Sawant. They both try and expose but with no substance."
He had added: "Apologies to Rakhi Sawant I am an old fan of hers!"
The placatory words failed. Rakhi wrote to the Mumbai police commissioner demanding action and sent copies to Sonia Gandhi and the state's home secretary, police chief and women's commission chairperson.
In the evening, she visited Goregaon police station. "We have recorded her statement. We shall consult our legal officers and decide further action," senior inspector Arun Jadhav said.
The letter ' Rakhi says she signed it after its contents were explained to her in Marathi ' was shown to this newspaper by her lawyer Ejaz Naqvi.
"This is a gruesome attack on my noble character.... Said accused (Singh) has lowered my image and reputation by comparing with masculine gender Kejarival," it says.
"Neither I have entered into any contractual obligation to claim expose to show. Neither I feel that any such elderly person of such old age shall inter into private life and profession in any manner."
Rakhi could not be reached despite repeated attempts.
Singh's tweet has been re-tweeted more than 290 times, with many criticising him. One reply said: "Such an uncool thing to say Mr Singh…Dangerously lowers your podium…"
Media entrepreneur Harini Calamur slammed Singh's comments, saying Rakhi had achieved much "despite all odds". Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit too described Rakhi as a "self made person and a grt entertainer" and asked whether women's organisations would "pull up" Singh "for humiliating Rakhi Sawant".