Arappor raising charges to defame my reputation: EPS tells HC

CHENNAI: Former chief minister and AIADMK joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday informed the Madras High Court that Arappor Iyakkam — an anti-corruption NGO — has been making corruption allegations to lower his image and defame him.

The Leader of the Opposition sued the NGO for alleging irregularities in awarding Rs.692 crore highways tenders in Thanjavur, Sivaganga, and Coimbatore during Palaniswami’s tenure as the highways minister for the State.

EPS made this submission before Justice Krishnan Ramasamy while the judge heard the former’s defamation suit seeking damages to the tune of Rs.10.10 crore.

When Arappor sought to adjourn the matter, the judge refused to postpone the matter without a hearing. The plaintiff submitted that there were no irregularities in awarding highways tenders during his tenure.

He further submitted that the NGO is saying that tenders were awarded in favor of a particular company but that company did not participate in the bid. “It is also noted neither the firms which took part in the bid nor the companies which lost in the bid had raised charges against the tender process,” the AIADMK leader submitted.

Palaniswami submitted that Arappor, which is an NGO, should not make such allegations on social media and media platforms without verifying the truth.

He further noted that the allegation was certainly to defame his name and it is an irreparable loss to his reputation which could not be fixed with any scale of compensation.

Recording the submissions, the judge adjourned the matter to Thursday.