Chennai: Opposition leader and DMK president M.K. Stalin and PMK MP Dr Anbumani Ramadoss appeared on Wednesday before the special court constituted to try criminal cases against MPs and MLAs in Chennai in connection with defamation cases filed against them by the AIADMK government.
A large number of policemen were posted at the collectorate complex where the special court is hearing the seven defamation cases registered against M.K. Stalin and one against Dr Anbumani Ramadoss. Both leaders greeted each other near the court hall. Among others former DMK ministers K. Ponmudi and E.V. Velu, DMK MP, RS Bharathi accompanied Stalin. DMK cadres accorded a rousing welcome to Stalin when he reached the complex.
Special judge J. Shanthi adjourned the hearing on defamation cases against M.K. Stalin to October 31 and the defamation case registered against Dr Anbumani Ramadoss to October 30.
In one of the criminal defamation complaints registered against Stalin, the city public prosecutor stated that on August 2, 2012, Stalin made a defamatory statement against the then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. Stalin said that Jayalalithaa was on vacation in Kodanad when all of Chennai city was suffering from cholera. Similarly, state government filed a defamation complaint against Anbumani Ramadoss for making statements in connection with the transfer of idol theft cases to the CBI by state government. Speaking to reporters after coming out from the court, Stalin said he would face trial in all seven defamation cases registered against him.
The Madras high court recently passed interim orders staying proceedings in the special court in connection with the defamation cases. justice PN Prakash, after admitting the criminal original petition filed by Stalin to quash the defamation proceedings before the special court, said, “The case has been transferred to the special court constituted exclusively for trial of cases against MPs and MLAs. The petitioner is directed to appear before the special court within two weeks from the date of receipt of this order.”
