CHENNAI: Madras High Court has come to the rescue of popular film comedian SN Vadivelu by staying all further defamation proceedings pending before a lower court in Namakkal.
Justice R Subbiah granted the relief on Wednesday, while passing interim orders on a criminal revision petition from Vadivelu. The Judge also exempted Vadivelu’s presence before the judicial magistrate-1 on November 27.
According to Vadivelu, one Namakkal Raja, claiming to be the president of Sri Sankaradoss Swamigal Thunai Namakkal District Nadaga Nadigar Sangam, filed a criminal defamation complaint against him for his speeches during the process of elections to the South Indian Artistes Association. He canvassed for the team of actors Vishal and Nazar.
At a campaign meeting, in a lighter vain, he had pointed out a scene in a film, in which he complains to the police about the sudden disappearance of a farm well. He also added that after their success in the election, the team would trace the Nadigar Sangam. Not even a word coming within the meaning of defamation, as defined under Section 499 IPC, was used. He never intended to make any defamatory speech towards anyone as alleged by the complainant, it was argued.