HC dismisses 3 defamation suits filed against Arappor Iyakkam

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court had quashed three defamation suits filed against Arappor Iyakkam by three firms that were allegedly close to former local administration minister SP Velumani.

Justice CV Karthikeyan passed the orders after the plaintiff firm KCP Private Limited represented by its Managing Director K Chandraprakash submitted that they are withdrawing the suits.

The plaintiff sought direction to the defendant for paying damages worth to the tune of Rs.3.6 crore for leveling baseless allegations against the company.

“The counsel for the plaintiff circulated a letter to the joint-registrar dated September 29, stating that she had received instructions from her client to withdraw the civil suit. The learned counsel for the plaintiff also made the following endorsement in the plaint. The plaintiff may be permitted to withdraw the suit,” the judge held.

After the judgment came, Arappor’s convenor Jayaram Venkatesan said to the media that this is a victory in our fight against corruption and Arappor will continue.

“These suits were filed to threaten Arappor Iyakkam through what is famously called the Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation to somehow make us not talk against Corruption. Arappor Iyakkam continued its fight against corruption. In August 2021, FIR was filed against the former Minister Velumani and his close aides, including Chandrasekar, etc, ” Jayaram Venkatesan said.