Stalin files Rs 1.10 cr defamation suit against Tamil mag for article linking him with Martin

The DMK leader has submitted in his plea that he was shocked and surprised to read a defamatory article titled “500 crores election fund? Martin is caught...DMK in trouble”. Noting that the offending article is entirely false, misleading, malicious and highly defamatory, he said the magazine has also conspicuously published his photo along with his son-in-law Sabareesan and Martin on the front page along with the headline of the cover story.

Also, noting that the offending article is not an exercise of free speech or freedom of press, he said, “The article is not grounded in journalistic ethics and has not followed first principles to verify the veracity of the article being published.”

“My views were not sought prior to publication. Therefore, the offending articles have been published only with an intention to defame and tarnish my image before the General elections to Parliament and by-elections to the four Assembly constituencies which held on April 19, 2019,” Stalin submitted in his plea.

The Tamil bi-weekly in its article had claimed that Martin, who was the Finance Minister for all parties, has been closer to the Karunanidhi family during the DMK regime of 2006-2011. But when the AIADMK came to power in 2011, Jayalalithaa’s anger fell on Martin leading to raids, lawsuits and arrests.

Even now, DMK leader Stalin is reported to be friendly with him. In this election, Martin has given up to about Rs 500 crore to the DMK. Similarly, West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress has reportedly been given several hundred crores. All this has been reportedly done so that the DMK and Trinamool Congress can be kept under check. The Income Tax Department, which has been steadily raiding Martin, has submitted a lot of information against DMK. All these details can create a problem for DMK, the article said.

However, Stalin claiming that the sum and substance of the article is a baseless allegation, said that the damage to his reputation and compensation for his mental agony and sufferance could be quantified at Rs 100 crores. But considering that a decree for the said sum will destroy the said magazine and possibly render it insolvent, he was limiting the claim in the present suit to Rs 1.10 Crore and in the event the suit is decreed, the said sum will be paid to a charity of his choosing, Stalin said in his suit, which is poised to be taken u for hearing soon.