DMK Files: Stalin files defamation case against TN BJP chief

Chennai: Chief Minister MK Stalin filed a defamation complaint against State BJP president K. Annamalai for making false statements with an intention to harm the Chief Minister’s reputation and to gain personal and political mileage.

City Public Prosecutor Devarajan filed the complaint, on behalf of the Chief Minister, before the Principal Sessions Court, Chennai, on Wednesday referring to Annamalai's press meet at BJP headquarters, Chennai. on April 14, 2023, where he made defamatory statements and exhibited videos.

The video was also uploaded and circulated in various social media, intending to harm the reputation of the Chief Minister, in respect of his conduct in the discharge of his public functions, the CPP said.

Annamalai levelled allegations against the DMK government, the chief minister and his family members, including his son and sports and youth welfare minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and son-in-law Sabareesan.

He had also averred to lodge a complaint against the chief minister with the CBI for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 200 crore from an US-based MNC that provided coaches for the Metro Rail phase-I project in 2011, during the fag end of the DMK’s previous regime.

Releasing a video in the name of 'DMK files' in which "the property details" of Stalin's family members, DMK ministers and party MPs were given, Annamalai alleged that Stalin, as deputy Chief Minister had received the bribe to fund the campaign for the 2011 Assembly elections.

He said the assets of top 11 DMK leaders and their family members were worth Rs 1.34 lakh crore, alleging that Udhayanidhi Stalin's Red Giant Movies had grown exponentially in the last couple of years and the Chief Minister’s family was raking in money through real estate and distilleries owned by DMK functionaries.

The CPP submitted that the accusations relate to the discharge of public functions by Stalin as Chief Minister from 2021 and as a Deputy Chief Minister between 2009 and 2011 and that the imputations made by Annamalai had lowered the reputation of the Chief Minister in the eyes of the general public.

He sought to prosecute Annamalai, under Section 499 and 500 IPC, for his defamatory speech made intentionally against public good without any basis or evidence and the malicious statements aimed at defaming the Chief Minister, which was an offence committed against the State.

Udhayanidhi Stalin, Kanimozhi MP, TR Baalu, and RS Bharathi, had already sent legal notices to Annamalai, demanding an unconditional apology.