CHENNAI: The Saidapet court has ordered K Annamalai, BJP state president to appear before the court on August 24, in the criminal defamation case filed by DMK treasurer T R Baalu.
On Friday, Annamalai appeared before the XVII Metropolitan Magistrate Anitha Anand of Saidapet court. The judge ordered Annamalai to appear before the court again, on the day he will be questioned regarding the charges filed against him by T R Baalu.
DMK treasurer and parliament member TR Baalu filed a criminal defamation petition against Annamalai, on the charges of defamatory comment in the name of DMK files released by the latter against senior DMK leaders without basic evidence. Annamalai defamed TR Baalu in a press meet by giving misleading statements he made defamatory comments against the petitioner, said the defamation petition. Mentioning Annamalai's claim that the petitioner owns 21 companies worth Rs.10,841 crore is a false comment and he should be punished under the defamation law for tarnishing the petitioner's reputation.
The XVII Metropolitan Magistrate on June 15 ordered Annamalai to summon before the court on July 14 to present his case. However, when Annamalai appeared before the court the judge ordered him to appear before the court on August 24, 2023, for further proceedings.