Bihar Rural Works Department Minister Ashok Choudhary on Tuesday (September 23, 2025) sent a defamation notice to Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor over Mr. Kishor’s allegations that the Minister amassed assets worth over ₹200 crore, including through benami deals, in two years. He demanded that Mr. Kishor either tender an unconditional apology or face a civil suit seeking ₹100 crore in damages.

Mr. Choudhary, who is also the national general secretary of the JD(U), in a press statement, stated that Mr. Kishor’s “baseless and misleading” allegations are a result of his panic and frustration.

The Minister said he had previously filed a defamation case in a different matter against Mr. Kishor, in which he was summoned by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Patna, in complaint case no. 6989/2025, on October 17, 2025.

“Prashant Kishor became frightened after receiving the court summons and, in that panic, held a press conference and began making absurd and false allegations. The alleged ₹200 crore worth of assets cited by Prashant Kishor is a blatant lie,” Mr. Choudhary stated.

Kishor’s allegations

Last week, Mr. Kishor had called Mr. Choudhary the most corrupt politician in Bihar alleging that In 2021, he purchased 23 katthas of benami land in Bikram, Patna, using his personal assistant’s name and transferred it to the name of his daughter, Samastipur MP Shambhavi Choudhary.

“Ashok Choudhary has amassed assets worth over ₹200 crore in the last two years. Following his daughter’s engagement, land worth hundreds of crores of rupees was purchased through the Manav Vaibhav Vikas Trust. Trust members like Jiyalal Arya and Anita Kunal should come forward and clarify the situation,” Mr. Kishor had said. The Trust is associated with Ms. Shambhavi’s father-in-law, late Kishore Kunal.

Mr. Kishor had claimed that five plots worth ₹38.44 crore were purchased in two years, from the engagement to the wedding of Ms. Shambhavi. Mr. Kishor had asked why did money come into the accounts of Mr. Choudhary and his wife from the accounts of people associated with the Trust.

‘Attempt to tarnish image’

Mr. Choudhary stated that an attempt has also been made to tarnish the image of his daughter.

“The said property was purchased on 21.02.2021 by my daughter from her legal income and resources. This property is clearly mentioned in her election affidavit. Therefore, the question of any kind of benami does not arise in this case,” Mr. Choudhary stated.

He further said, “Prashant Kishor has neither political integrity nor any vision for public service. He is simply making baseless statements and conspiring to mislead the public with baseless allegations. How can someone whose entire political foundation is based on lies and deception talk about public welfare and protecting their interests?”

Mr. Choudhary stated that Mr. Kishor also falsely claimed in the press conference that banking transactions had taken place between his wife, Ms. Neeta Keskar Choudhary, and Ms. Anita Kunal, the wife of the late Kishore Kunal.

He asserted that he never had any direct or indirect connection with the activities of the trust mentioned by Mr. Kishor or any other trust.

Mr. Choudhary said that his public life had been completely transparent and clean. The law would take its course, and the truth would be revealed in court, he said.

He added that Mr. Kishor’s false and baseless allegations had deeply hurt him and his family and he should publicly apologise for making such allegations.

He warned that in light of the circumstances and documented facts, a defamation notice of ₹100 crore has already been sent to Mr. Kishor.

“Under the notice, Mr. Kishor must tender an unconditional apology in writing and verbally through a press conference within seven days. If he fails to do so, appropriate criminal proceedings will be initiated against him and a civil suit will be filed for damages of ₹100 crore,” Mr. Choudhary stated.