Mumbai: YouTuber Rashid Siddiquee opposed the defamation notice issued against him by Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput death case and refused to pay Rs 500 crore damage sought by the star.
He claimed that there was nothing defamatory in his videos.
Siddiquee urged Akshay Kumar to withdraw the notice, failing which he would initiate "appropriate legal proceedings" against the actor.
The actor had issued a defamation notice against Siddiquee on November 17 seeking Rs 500 crore for "false baseless allegations" by making stories of his connection in Rajput's death case.
Kumar, through his notice sent by the law firm IC legal, said Siddiquee in his YouTube channel-FF News- had published several 'defamatory, libellous and derogatory' videos.
Siddiquee sent his reply through his advocate JP Jayswal, said that the allegations made by Akshay Kumar is "false, vexatious and oppressive and is raised with an intent to harass him".
It also added that the death of Rajput was covered by many independent reporters and sources, including Siddiquee, who covered the news as many influential people were involved in the case.
His reply also further claims that every Indian citizen has the fundamental right to freedom of speech, which means, Siddiquee's content cannot be defamatory and that they are to be treated as personal viewpoints.
Moreover, it questioned the delay in the defamation notice as the video was uploaded in August 2020.
The Youtuber hails from Bihar and he believes that he is being selectively targeted.
Rashid Siddiquee is booked by Mumbai Police on charges of defamation, public mischief and intentional insult for his posts against Mumbai police, the Maharashtra government and minister Thackeray.
He was granted anticipatory bail on November 3 by a local court which allowed him to cooperate in the probe.