Jayalalithaa moves high court seeking to quash defamation proceedings

AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa today moved the Madras High Court seeking quashing of defamation proceedings filed against her by the son-in-law of Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister MK Stalin in a city court, which had ordered her to appear before it on October 15.

In her petition Jayalalithaa also prayed to the court to dispense with her presence before the chief metropolitan magistrate in Egmore, who had directed her to appear before him.

In his petition on September 7, V Sabarisan had accused Jayalalithaa of "making scathing, scurrilous, malicious and defamatory remarks" against him in connection with the sale of spurious drugs and chemicals while addressing a public meeting on July 13 in Coimbatore.

Describing the statement as false, frivolous and untrue, he had requested the court to take cognisance of his complaint and punish Jayalalithaa under IPC sections 500 and 501 (relating to defamation).

Jayalalithaa contended that the statements made by her in the capacity as leader of opposition and general secretary of her party, were bonafide with the intention to save people from fake drugs. The complaint affected her constitutional right enshrined under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution, she said.