Journalist summoned in defamation case

Chennai, Aug 2 (UNI) Madras High Court has summoned a journalist to appear before the court within six weeks in connection with a defamation suit filed by the Customs Commissioner, Chennai Airport, seeking a claim of Rs one crore as damages.

Chief Justice A P Shah issued summons to 'Satyalaya' Ramakrishnan after taking on file the defamation suit filed by Customs Commissioner Rajan, on behalf of customs officials, Union Finance Minister and Minister of State for Finance.

The plaintiff contended that Mr Ramakrishnan had published a news item in his Tamil daily 'Arasiyal Erimalai' (now defunct) against the customs officials and the Union Ministers, which was false, frivolous and highly defamatory, with an ulterior motive to tarnish their image.

Claiming that there was not even an iota of truth in the report, Mr Rajan sought a claim of Rs one crore towards damages from Mr Ramakrishnan and a direction to restrain him from publishing such false reports.

Mr Ramakrishnan said he had no ulterior motive in publishing the news item, which was solely based on a memorandum submitted by one Mr Jamal to the President against the Customs officials and the Ministers.

He had carried the explanation in his daily after the Customs Commissioner issued him a notice, Mr Ramakrishnan said, adding that the publication of the daily had been temporarily suspended.

UNI