CHENNAI:Nearly two decades after the telecast of a sensational interview with slain forest brigand Veerappan, in which he made defamatory comments against Sukanya, the popular actor had won the long legal battle against Sun TV.
A city civil court here directed Sun TV to pay Rs 10,00,500 to the actor for damaging her reputation. In 1996, Sukanya had moved a civil suit against Sun TV, Tamil bi-weekly, Nakkeeran, and Veerappan, stating that the channel telecast the programme ‘Nerukku Ner’ (face to face) as seven episodes from April 7, 1996, featuring an interview with Veerappan — since dead.
Sukanya said, Veerappan, while interviewed by Nakkeeran editor RR Gopal, had made defamatory statements against her. The statements were offensive to her dignity, and lowered her image in the eyes of the public, she charged. The actor sought the court to direct the defendants to pay Rs 10,00,500 as damages.
On August 6, 2010, Madras High Court upheld the legal validity of a State government order which increased the jurisdiction of Madras City Civil Courts, allowing to hear matters worth up to Rs 25 lakh.
The civil suit was transferred to a Fast Track court and then to the XV Additional City Civil court here. As the trial ended on Wednesday, civil Judge Chandrasekar directed Sun TV to pay the damages to the actor. But the court relieved Nakkeeran from paying the damages, based on the submission made by its counsel PT Perumal and L Sivakumar that the videos of the interview were provided to Sun TV based on an agreement that the magazine would not be liable to any consequences arising out of the telecast. Veerappan was also relieved.