BJP serves ₹100 crore defamation notice to CM Omar Abdullah

A legal confrontation has escalated between Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Bharatiya Janata Party's state unit, with the BJP serving a legal notice demanding a retraction of Abdullah's allegations of attempted poaching and a public apology, or face a defamation suit seeking 100 crore rupees in damages. The notice, delivered on July 13, 2026, sets a seven-day deadline for compliance and threatens both civil and criminal proceedings.

The dispute stems from public statements made by Abdullah, who alleged that BJP functionaries had approached National Conference legislators with inducements to defect. According to the legal notice, issued by advocate Parimoksh Seth on behalf of BJP Jammu and Kashmir president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Paul Sharma, Abdullah claimed that BJP office-bearers offered NC MLAs from the Jammu region between 20 and 30 crore rupees, a ministerial position, and assurances regarding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood in exchange for switching allegiance. The notice also references Abdullah's allegation that a senior BJP functionary, who is a Supreme Court lawyer, had offered bribes to NC legislators.