Tamil Nadu: BJP IT Wing Head Restrained From Making Comments Against DMK Minister By Madras High Court

The Madras High Court restrained C T R Nirmal Kumar, the IT Wing head of the Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), from making any defamatory statements or tweets against V Senthil Balaji, the state's Excise and Electricity Minister.

Balaji had filed a civil suit through advocate P Wilson, seeking an order to restrain Kumar and seek damages of Rs 2 crore.

Advocate Wilson said that Kumar had been running a smear campaign against Balaji for several months by making wild and baseless allegations in order to tarnish his reputation.

He further added that prior to the petition being filed in court, a legal notice was sent to Kumar asking him to ‘cease and desist’ from making such remarks, and even to that notice, Kumar had reacted by tweeting false and defamatory statements.

Justice C V Karthikeyan, after hearing the matter said that prima facie, a case is made out and granted an interim injunction, restraining Kumar.

Kumar had recently alleged that Balaji was involved in the sale of liquor at 10 per cent above MRP (maximum retail price) through the state-owned Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC) outlets.

Kumar had said, "TASMAC sells liquor worth around Rs 130 crore per day from over 5,300 bars and wine shops in the state. By charging 10% extra, the power centres in the government are getting Rs 13 crore through their conduits as unaccounted money.”

He had also added that he would approach the court if the state and central agencies do not take notice of the issue.

(With inputs from PTI)