Date:09/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/06/09/stories/2005060905400400.htm

Tamil Nadu

Warrant against Karnataka Congress leader

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: A sessions court here has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against the former Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president and former Minister, Allum Veerabhadrappa, following his non-appearance in connection with defamation proceedings initiated against him by the Tamil Nadu Government.

The VII Additional Sessions Judge, K. Jayabalan, who is in charge of III Additional Sessions Court, issued the NBW on Tuesday after Mr. Veerabhadrappa failed to appear before the court pursuant to the summons issued earlier. He has been directed to be produced before the court on August 7, when the matter has been posted for further hearing.

The complaint pertains to certain remarks made by the Congress leader in the aftermath of the death of former Minister, Nagappa, while in the custody of forest brigand Veerappan.

"Defamatory" remarks

The "defamatory" remarks, on Tamil Nadu Government's role in the death of Nagappa, were published in a Tamil daily in its issue dated December 14, 2002.

In his complaint, filed on behalf of the State Government, City Public Prosecutor T.V. Ganesh said "false and defamatory remarks intending to harm the reputation of the Chief Minister were made with malicious intention," and that the daily published them knowing fully well that they were false and frivolous.