Patna, Feb. 1: Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi today responded to the allegations made by Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s relatives against his nephew Mahesh Modi.

Sushil said he has no relation to the matter. “I have many relatives. But I do not intervene in their personal affairs. I do not have any idea if anyone is using my name to threaten the poet’s family members,” Sushil told The Telegraph.

Dinkar’s daughter-in-law Hemant Devi and grandson Arvind Kumar Singh had yesterday arrived at chief minister Nitish Kumar’s janata darbar to complain that Mahesh had been threatening to forcibly take possession of the late poet’s house, Dinkar Bhavan on Arya Kumar Road, near Machautoli.

Arvind had said Mahesh, to whom the family had leased out a shop on the premises of their house, had refused to vacate the premises even after the lease period ended.

Arvind also said Mahesh, who had political connections, had abused and threatened the family.

The Telegraph had reported their visit in its February 1 edition.

Sushil, however, said: “We have managed to maintain the law and order conditions in the state. No one can dare to threaten or harass anyone, especially Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s family. The rule of law will take its course. No one will be spared.

“I do not entertain the requests of my family members in official work. Even if my son does anything like this, action would be taken against him,” said Sushil.

He also said the poet’s family members should seek help from the police and lodge a formal complaint.

But the family members had said yesterday that they had met city superintendent of police Manu Maharaj, who told them he could do nothing in the matter.

“Our government is working hard to follow a system of justice,” said Sushil.

Dinkar’s relative, however, had not been satisfied by Nitish’s response yesterday. Hemant said Nitish had given a vague reply. He had said this was a janata darbar for workers of BJP and JD (U) and they should return on another day. Modi had been present at the meeting.

Arvind told The Telegraph: “No one can deny that Mahesh is getting all kinds of help from Sushil Modi. We do not want to get into a mess. We do not have the resources to fight such a powerful man.

“We request the government to take action against Mahesh, so that we get back our shop. We just want to live in peace,” he added.

Arvind also said: “My grandfather was a great poet and a national icon. We do not want the house named after him to go to anti-social elements. But if Mahesh’s strong-arm tactics continue, we will be forced to vacate the house. If Mahesh takes over Dinkar Bhavan, it will be a great insult to the memory of the poet and the state.”