The public battle between former associates Mikhail Rodrigues also known as the ‘Guyanese Critic’ and prominent Businessman Azruddin Mohamed, this past week escalated further with the social media commentator being given up to Wednesday March, 27 2024, to pay up G$17.5M in addition to another sum of US$3,000, being demanded by his former close associate.
This, or face even more legal action by the Mohamed’s. This according to a letter dispatched by Attorney-at-Law, Naresh Poonai, of the Law Firm POONAI & POONAI on Wednesday last, demanding that monies owed and payable to Azruddin by ‘Critic’ be done so within seven days to repay the money by the prolific social commentator turned businessman. In the legal missive seen by this publication, Poonai prefaced the demand by pointing out that “I am instructed that my client has, over the last few years, loaned you various sums of money at your request. Despite your obligations to repay these sums, I am instructed that, up to present, you are still indebted to my client.”
As such, “I am instructed to demand, which I hereby do, that you pay the said sums of GYD$17,500,000 (seventeen million five hundred thousand Guyana dollars) and USD$3,000 (three thousand United States dollars) to my client within seven (7) days from the date hereof, that is, on/before failing which I am instructed to initiate legal proceedings against you without further notice to recover the said sums together with legal costs and interest.”
The latest threat of legal action by Mohamed against Rodrigues, comes on the heels of a recent spat that, Critic insists will also have to be sorted out in court.
This publication on March last, reported that the ‘Guyanese Critic’ was adamant on not acquiescing to demands from businessmen Azruddin and his father Nazar and Mohamed, who are seeking over $200 million in damages for alleged defamation of character.
Rodrigues was queried about his response to a previous legal correspondence from the Mohameds, which he at the time bluntly asserted, “I am not paying them anything… we going to court.” He further indicated that his legal representative, Sanjeev Datadin, is preparing a response, which he intends to share once finalised.
The dispute stems from Rodrigues’ social media program ‘Morning Live with the Critic,’ where he allegedly made defamatory statements against the Mohameds. According to letters sent by the law firm Poonai and Poonai, Rodrigues’ remarks on various Facebook broadcasts have caused significant harm to the businessmen’s reputation. The letters, addressed to Rodrigues, highlight specific instances where he purportedly uttered untrue and damaging statements about the Mohameds.
The legal correspondence emphasises that the allegations made by Rodrigues lack factual basis and are injurious to the Mohameds’ reputation. Furthermore, it criticises Rodrigues for portraying himself as a critic while allegedly failing to offer valid or constructive criticism.
