CHENNAI: On behalf of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, City Public Prosecutor ML Jegan has filed a defamation suit against S Selvam, printer, publisher and editor of Tamil daily Murasoli for publishing a defamatory article in its issue dated May 20.
The complaint was filed before II Additional Sessions Judge MD Sumathi, on Wednesday. The matter will be taken up on June 6.
Complainant contended that the article, published in the front page, was false and malicious one.
It contained defamatory news against the Chief Minister regarding alleged illegal sand mining in the rivers of the State. There was no iota of truth in the article and it was per se defamatory. The Chief Minister was taking stringent action against those who were indulging in illegal sand mining.
It was Jayalalithaa who raised her voice against the illegal sand mining during the erstwhile DMK regime and was instrumental in curbing the menace.
In fact, the government headed by her had framed a policy in 2003 to bring the sand quarrying issue under the direct control of the government, the complaint pointed out.
The Chief Minister had issued a press statement on May 17 last regarding the action taken against persons who indulged in illegal sand mining, the complaint added, and prayed that the court to cognisance of the complaint, proceed against Selvam and punish him for offences under Sections 500 and 501 of the IPC.