TN BJP President K Annamalai Summoned By Court Over Defamation Complaint By TR Baalu

A Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Chennai has summoned Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai to appear before the court on 14 July.

This order was passed in response to a criminal defamation complaint filed by DMK party treasurer and Member of Parliament, TR Baalu.

Baalu filed the defamation complaint at the city court in Saidapet in May. He sought to penalize Annamalai for allegedly defaming him during a press conference. In his complaint, Baalu claimed that Annamalai made misleading statements about him.

On 9 June, Baalu gave a sworn statement before the court. Senior advocate P Wilson represented Baalu and argued that Annamalai defamed his client through misleading statements during the press conference.

Further Annamalai reportedly made statements that suggested Baalu had been dropped by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from the Cabinet due to corruption. These statements were also deemed defamatory.

Earlier this year, Chief Minister MK Stalin filed a criminal defamation case against Annamalai through city public prosecutor G Devarajan.

Apart from Baalu who had sought damages of Rs 100 crore, Udhayanidhi Stalin and Kanimozhi had also sought damages of Rs 50 crore and Rs 1 crore respectively.

Bharathi had sought Rs 500 crore in damages on behalf of the Chief Minister and the party. Annamalai had then responded to his notice seeking Rs 500 crore and Re 1 for associating his name with the Arudhra chit fund scam.