BJP MP Pratap Simha apologises to Prakash Raj for derogatory social media post in 2017

Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha on Thursday apologised to actor-politician Prakash Raj for a post on social media in 2017. Prakash Raj had filed a defamation case against Simha after the MP did not respond to his legal notice asking that he apologise and withdraw the post.  

“I had posted a derogatory article against u n your family on 2 & 3rd October 2017. However I understand these were unwarranted n hurtful. Therefore, I unequivocally withdraw n regret Twitter n FB post,” Pratap Simha wrote on Twitter on Thursday. 

Dear @prakashraaj, I had posted a derogatory article against u n your family on 2 & 3rd October 2017. However I understand these were unwarranted n hurtful. Therefore, I unequivocally withdraw n regret Twitter n FB post.

— Pratap Simha (@mepratap) August 8, 2019

A special court in Karnataka, while hearing Prakash Raj's case on Thursday, ordered Simha to tender a public apology. Speaking to TNM, Prakash Raj stated that he has accepted the MP's apology.

"There was a hearing today. He had earlier offered a compromise, but I had insisted that only a public apology will suffice. This was repeated before the court today. Now he has apologised. We can all have ideological differences, but need to maintain dignity in debate. I believe that one who asks for forgiveness is a human being, the one who forgives is a bigger person. For me, it is a moral victory, but I had to pursue it for two years. It's good that he has regretted it, and I accept the apology," Prakash Raj told TNM.

Thank you @mepratap ..I accept your apology... we may have differences with our ideology.. but let us not get Personel and dirty on social media .. as we both are successful individuals in our respective fields .. it’s our responsibility to set good examples.. .. all the best https://t.co/TSr0RF73qa

— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) August 8, 2019

On October 2, 2017, Simha had taken a personal dig at Prakash Raj after the actor had criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.  

Pratap Simha’s tweet was a response to Prakash’s criticism on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence after the murder of noted journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, who was a friend of the actor.

Prakash Raj had sent him a legal notice in November 2017. The legal notice also stated that in addition to the tweet on October 2, Pratap Simha made more remarks on October 3. According to Prakash Raj, Pratap Simha said to a channel, “Your name in Kannada is Prakash Rai and Prakash Raj in Tamil Nadu. You change your name and identity according to your convenience and necessity in different states.” 

Prakash Raj then moved a Mysuru lower court after the MP did not reply or apologise and sought a compensation of Re 1.

Calling Pratap Simha a serial offender who trolled people and made derogatory remarks on social media, Prakash Raj had then said, “He was trying to instigate and it has made my personal life difficult. When I'm sharing my hurt you can't troll me and ask your followers to troll. Mr Simha is a serial offender.” 

In 2004, Prakash Raj's four-year-old son had died in an accident while flying a kite.