Date:13/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/13/stories/2008031355180600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Plea to quash defamation case

Staff Reporter

No sanction of Centre: Hindu Munnani

MADURAI: Two Hindu Munnani State office-bearers have moved the Madras High Court Bench here to quash a defamation case filed against them by the Ramanathapuram public prosecutor on behalf of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin and Union Shipping Minister T.R. Baalu.

They claimed that the Prosecutor had obtained only State Government sanction and not Central Government sanction before filing the case.

Adjourned

Justice S. Nagamuthu directed the Government Advocate to ascertain the veracity of the claim and adjourned the matter to March 18.

The case was filed against Prabhakaran alias Singai Prabhakaran and S. Athithan under Section 199(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the Ministers at a public meeting held at Emaneswaram in Ramanathapuram district on July 9, 2007.