AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey files defamation suit against Kosaraju

The AIFF President has demanded a public apology from Gopalakrishna Kosaraju.

AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey has sent a legal notice to former Andhra Pradesh Football Association President Gopalakrishna Kosaraju, in regard to the letter he had sent to the AIFF Executive Committee a few days ago on January 29, 2024.

The letter claimed that Chaubey and AIFF Treasurer Kipa Ajay along with former Secretary General Shaji Prabhakaran misused the federation’s funds for personal use (as per News9). The former APFA President claimed that Chaubey purchased shoes using the federation’s funds, while Kipa availed spa services, paid fuel bills, and settled hotel expenses. The AIFF officials held the AIFF credit cards for emergency spending during official tours, a privilege that, according to Kosaraju, was misused by the officials.

Khel Now possesses a copy of the legal notice sent by Chaubey. The notice from the AIFF President’s lawyer read, “My client has never misused any funds in relation to the discharge of his duties as the president of the All-India Football Federation, including but not limited to, the allegations raised by the Noticee and any suggestion to the contrary is vehemently denied by my client. The noticee’s attempts to defame my client is laughable and the alleged financial irregularities highlight that the Noticee is clutching at straws, reeks of desperation and lacks any specificity regarding evidence / material particulars.”

“In light of this, my client firmly demands an immediate cessation of any further dissemination of this damaging information. Furthermore, I insist on a public retraction and an apology from the Noticee, Mr. Gopalakrishna Kosaraju to rectify the harm inflicted by the false accusations on my client. It is crucial to address this matter responsibly and promptly to safeguard the reputation of my client and mitigate any potential legal consequences,” the notice further read.

Kalyan Chaubey has demanded a public apology from Kosaraju. He also has the right to seek compensation from the latter with regard to the damage caused by the mail and the news/tweets which have been circulating on the internet and on social media.

Gopalakrishna Kosaraju has been requested to provide an answer to the notice within seven days, failing which Chaubey “will be constrained to initiate appropriate proceedings to protect his rights and interests and such proceedings will be at your sole risk, cost and consequence. Such failure will leave my client with no choice but to pursue legal remedies available to him, of both a civil and criminal nature, under the applicable laws.”

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