No relief for Velumani in case against Stalin

When the civil suit filed by Velumani seeking a permanent injunction restraining Stalin from propagating allegations against him came up for hearing on Thursday, Justice R Subramanian ordered notice to Stalin returnable by April 16. The Minister has also sought Rs 1 crore as damages.

While referring to the election speeches made by Stalin, Velumani said the opposition leader called him a fraudster.

He said Stalin alleged that all tenders for construction contracts have been supposedly given to his relatives and benamis. The DMK leader also claimed to have evidence against the Minister and would lodge him in jail the moment he came to power, Velumani said.

According to Velumani, these allegations were baseless and have been made recklessly to defame him. At a meeting held at Thondamuthur on April 4, Stalin had made a statement that he was shielding the accused in the Pollachi gang rape case, which was an unsubstantiated allegation made with a singular objective of maligning his name, the Minister said.

Knowing well that the speeches were highly defamatory and false, Stalin tarnished and damaged his integrity and brought down his reputation and that of his party in the eyes of the public, Velumani contended.

Clarifying that no FIR was registered nor has any criminal case been lodged against him, the Minister said Stalin was wilfully making scandalous allegations that were being circulated through the print media and the internet. In fact, cases were registered against Stalin for the speeches made by him in different police stations pursuant to thecomplaints lodged.