HC refuses to close deputy speaker’s ₹1cr defamation suit

HC refuses to close deputy speaker’s ₹1cr defamation suit

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.11.2020 

The Madras high court has refused to reject a civil suit moved by Tamil Nadu assembly deputy speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman against DMK chief M K Stalin’s son-inlaw V Sabareesan, Kalaignar TV and Nakkheeran, seeking ₹1 crore in damages for linking his name with the Pollachi sexual assault case.

Dismissing applications to reject the plaint as being devoid of merits, Justice P T Asha directed those accused to file their written statements to the suit.

Though the suit was filed against DMK chief M K Stalin and Junior Vikatan as well, only Sabareesan, Kalaignar TV and Nakkheeran moved the application to reject the plaint.

Jayaraman wanted the court to direct Stalin and others to pay him ₹1 crore jointly for having damaged his reputation. He accused Stalin of having made public speeches linking him with the crime, which were telecast on Kalaignar TV. He further added that the two Tamil magazines published false and defamatory news reports intended to tarnish his reputation.

The deputy speaker also sought a permanent injunction restraining Stalin and others from making or publishing false and defamatory statements against him in any manner.

Pointing out news reports published in the magazines, Jayaraman submitted that the reports made false claims of his son being involved in the Pollachi sexual assault case and that he attempted to bail him out from the case.

Adding that he had been holding the post of deputy speaker of the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly since May 16, 2016, Jayaraman said he had come up in life by stint of hard work and was held in high esteem by friends, family, well-wishers and among right thinking sections of society.

TN assembly deputy speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman sought ₹1cr in damages from Stalin, his son-in-law Sabareesan and three news houses for linking him with the Pollachi sexual assault case