Lt Gen Sinha threatens legal action against false, malicious reports

New Delhi, Nov 18 (UNI) Taking exceptions to the allegations of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that he used to invite Swami Dayanand Pandey, a terror accused in Malegaon blast, former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen S K Sinha today said he was contemplating taking legal action against 'totally false and malicious' reports.

In a statement, former Governor said the former CM had alleged that the Swami stayed with him in Rajbhavan on his invitations.

''This is as absurd as I allege that he (Mufti) used to be in touch with Osama Bin Laden during his frequent trips abroad. Some PDP men are attempting to link my name with smuggling of RDX, the explosive substance by the Army,'' he said.

Former Governor said as far as he was concerned, he had heard of Dayanand Pande when his name started appearing in newspapers in connection with the Malegaon blast.

''I don't remember meeting him at any time and the question of staying at Rajbhavan or having close links with me doesn't arise,'' he said.

He said he had been reading 'scurrilous reports' in a section of the media insinuating that he had accomodated Swami Dayanand Pandey as a state guest in Srinagar in 2002 whereas he took over as the Governor only in 2003.

''Question of making anyone a state guest in 2002 did not arise.

In any case, it falls under the powers of the state Government to make any person a State Guest,'' Lt Gen Sinha added.

UNI MCN AE AS1729