Tamil Nadu CM files defamation suit against state BJP chief

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Wednesday filed a defamation suit against state BJP president K Annamalai for making corruption allegations against him and his cabinet colleagues.

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Wednesday filed a defamation suit against state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president K Annamalai in a Chennai court for making corruption allegations against him and his cabinet colleagues.

Tamil Nadu CM files defamation suit against state BJP chief

Addressing a press conference dubbed as “DMK Files” on April 14, Annamalai made corruption allegations against ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leaders, including Stalin, and their families.

The defamation petition, filed by city public prosecutor G Devarajan, said the accusations were made without any basis and evidence. It added that the chief minister’s “efforts to ensure social justice” has brought fame from across the country, adding that the state BJP chief has resorted to political ill-will.

“The excellent rule he has delivered for the past two years has earned him a very high reputation among the people of Tamil Nadu and across the country. The love and affection showered by the people of Tamil Nadu is not digestible by the opposition parties, and the Bharatiya Janata Party, of which the accused is the state president,” the petition, seen by HT, said.

The petition sought Annamalai to be prosecuted for defamation under Section 199 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), justifying that such a defamation offence against a chief minister is against the state of Tamil Nadu since it relates to discharge of public functions. “The state therefore is rightly interested in pursuing prosecution,” the petition said.

CrPC Section 199(2) mandates that a sessions court may take cognizance of a defamation offence committed against a public servant, including ministers, in respect of his conduct in the discharge of his public functions upon a complaint in writing made by the public prosecutor.

The plea added that the statements made were not in good faith, but made only with a “malice to defame” the chief minister for the “personal political gain” of accused Annamalai, and “against the interest of public good”.

During the press conference, which was streamed live from the BJP headquarters in Chennai on social media platforms, Annamalai alleged that Stalin had received ₹200 crore as election fund in 2011 from an American company, Alstom, after favouring them a tender for a Metro Rail project that year. The state BJP chief also accused senior DMK leaders, including Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Udhayanidhi Stalin, TR Baalu, KN Nehru, K Ponmudy and Kalanidhi Maran, of owning assets worth ₹1.34 lakh crore.

Soon after the press conference, the ruling DMK sent Annamalai a legal notice demanding a public apology and sought damages to the tune of ₹500 crore. Subsequently, each of the DMK leaders named by Annamalai has sent him legal notices.

The petition, however, said: “The Government of Tamil Nadu and the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu are open to any fact-based criticisms with an intention to doing public good, the allegations which are per se defamatory and made only with an intention to harm the reputation of the Hon’ble Chief Minister against good faith and without any public good.”

State BJP vice-president Narayanan Thirupathy said the party expected the government’s move.

“We expected this. We will face them in court and the DMK will face consequences too. The court will decide on the proof of ‘DMK Files’,” said Thirupathy. “They think they can threaten Annamalai, but they are afraid because just two days ago Stalin said he will ignore negative comments against him but now he’s filed a case.”