MK Stalin, Edappadi K Palaniswami asked to stop Kodanad case diatribe
Chennai: The Madras high court has directed DMK president M.K. Stalin and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami not to speak about the Kodanad murder case, which is pending before the sessions court in Nilgiris district.
Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan gave the directive while disposing of the petition filed by city public prosecutor, which sought to vacate the stay, granted by the court earlier on the defamation proceedings pending before the sessions court in Chennai.
The judge also closed the contempt petition filed by the city public prosecutor against M.K.Stalin for violating the order passed orally by the court earlier.
Originally, the city public prosecutor filed a defamation complaint before the principal sessions court against Stalin for making speeches allegedly linking chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami with the Kodanad murder case.
On a criminal original petition filed by Stalin, Justice Ilanthiraiyan had granted an interim stay.
While the matter was pending, contending that Stalin was continuously making speeches allegedly linking chief minister with Kodanadu murder case during his election campaign, the CPP filed the vacate stay petition. During the hearing of the petition, the high court had orally directed counsel for Stalin to instruct his client not to speak about the case which was pending for trial before the sessions court in Nilgiris district. Contending that Stalin had violated this order, the CPP filed a contempt petition.
In his present order, the judge said public prosecutor A. Natarajan produced video-graphic speeches of the opposition leader Stalin with regard to Kodanadu murder case.
It was informed on behalf of Stalin that the Chief Minister also spoke about Kodanadu murder case and the same was published in recent newspapers.
"Stalin and Chief Minister are directed not to speak about the Kodanad murder case which is pending on the file of the sessions court at Nilgiris district. Vacate stay petition filed by CPP is disposed of.
In view of the same, the contempt petition is closed", the judge added.
The judge further posted the matter for after summer vacation, further hearing of the main criminal original petition.
