Ghulati serves legal notice to IHF

Hockey India executive director Anupam Ghulati has served a legal notice to the Indian Hockey Federation for making “malicious and defamatory” statement against him in connection with a financial transaction during his tenure as an advisor to the ad-hoc committee of IHF.

In the notice served to IHF secretary Ashok Mathur and president RK Shetty, Ghulati’s lawyer Shyel Trehan has sought an apology within seven days, failing which he would initiate legal action against the duo.

“You have made baseless, reckless and defamatory remarks and allegations against our client. These false allegations are made made in respect to a foreign remittance made by the ad-hock committee of IHF, to which our client was an advisor and not a member,” Ghulati’s lawyer said in the legal notice dated October 20.

“It is curious that you chose to single out our client, claiming a conspiracy with unknown officials of the ad-hoc committee. This by itself demonstrates the mala fide and misconceived nature of your communication.

“In the light of the above you are hereby called upon to retract your malicious and defamatory communication forthwith, and issue an unequivocal apology to our client in writing,” the notice read.

“In the event you fail to comply with the above within seven days of receipt of this notice, our client shall be constrained to initiate legal proceedings, both criminal and civil against you,” he added.