HC dismisses 9 defamation suits filed by government

Justice N Satish Kumar, before whom the pleas against them came up, dismissed them on the basis that the government cannot move defamation suits for personal comments made against the Chief Minister. Defamation would construe only when the comments are made against the office and the activities of the Chief Minister, the judge said while dismissing the petitions.

On Friday, four cases against Subramanian Swamy, two cases each against Senthil Balaji and Selvaganapathy, and one against Mohideen Khan, also part of DMK, were dismissed.

The judge also posted the pleas moved by DMK leader and MP Kanimozhi and AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran seeking to quash the defamation suits filed against them for criticising Chief Minister Edappadi K Planiswami for hearing to different dates.

It may be noted that a few of the suits were filed when the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was in power and were being pursued by the present government.