Tirupati: The XV Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Georgetown, Chennai, has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against film director R.K. Selvamani, who has been entangled in a defamation suit.
The NBW was issued after Selvamani failed to appear repeatedly for court hearings related to the case. Selvamani is a well-known director in the Tamil film industry and is the husband of YSRC minister R.K. Roja.
The defamation case dates back to 2016 when he and former Congress MLA Arul Anbarasu participated in a television interview. During the interview, Selvamani allegedly made critical comments about late film financier Mukund Chand Bothra.
Bothra then filed a defamation case against Selvamani, alleging that his reputation has been tarnished due to the film director’s comments. In the interim Bothra passed away but the legal proceedings have continued with the film financier’s son Gagan Bothra pursuing the case.
Court hearings had been scheduled for Selvamani to present his defence against the defamation claims. However, neither Selvamani nor his legal representatives appeared before the judge for these hearings.
Following this, the Chennai Georgetown Court on Monday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Selvamani. However, the court has adjourned the next hearing in the case to September 22, providing the film director an additional opportunity to explain his stand.
