Govt withdraws defamation complaint against AIADMK leaders

Chennai, Jun 22: Tamil Nadu Government on Tuesday, Jun 21 filed a petition before a local court here seeking to withdraw a defamation complaint filed by previous DMK government against four AIADMK leaders.

The previous DMK government had in April filed a defamation complaint against D Jayakumar, O Panneerselvam, K A Sengottaiyan and P H Manoj Pandian for alleging that it was attempting to destroy important files and documents besides terming it as a "caretaker" government.

Jayakumar is the Speaker in the present government, while Panneerselvam and Sengottaiyan are ministers.

The DMK government had submitted that the AIADMK leaders in a letter to EC on April 24 had alleged that the "caretaker" government had ordered shifting of various departments from the old secretariat at Fort St George to the new one at Omanduarar Government Estate with a view to destroying key files.

The use of the word "caretaker government" amounted to making derogatory remarks against elected (former) Chief Minister, the government had said.

The AIADMK government filed a petition seeking to withdraw the complaint and produced Governement Order relating to withdrawal of the case.

When the counsel for the previous DMK government said it had no objection to withdraw the case, the Principal Sessions court posted for its orders.

PTI