Madras HC quashes defamation case against AIADMK leader CVe Shanmugam

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court quashed two criminal complaints pending against former minister C Ve Shanmugam of AIADMK for allegedly making abusive and derogatory statements on the Chief Minister and his government.

Justice G Jayachandran allowed the petitions moved by the former minister seeking to quash the criminal complaints pending against him.

Senior counsel R John Sathyan represented the former minister, submitted that his client's statements are not abusive or derogatory in a motive to incite disharmony to the society as claimed by the State. Since he is the former minister and senior leader of the opposition party the statement was made to expose the shortcomings of the State, said the counsel.

The former minister's act will not attract the provisions 153 (A), 505, 504 of IPC included by the police in the FIR as his client's statements have not instigated any violence between two groups.

The government prosecutor submitted that the petitioner is repeatedly making remarks against the Chief Minister with abusive and derogatory statements. The case at hand, the petitioner has made derogatory statements which amount to disturbing the public harmony and instigating violence, said the government advocate.

On February 28, 2022, C Ve Shanmugam held a protest at Villupuram followed by a public meeting condemning the arrest of former minister D Jayakumar. It was reported that C Ve Shanmugam has made derogatory and abusive statements against the Chief Minister and his government.

Followed by the complaint lodged by the Tahsildar the Villupuram West police booked a case against C Ve Shanmugam on the allegation of unlawful gathering breaching Covid-19 restrictions.

Later, after more than 200 days' delay, DMK advocate wing of Villupuram North lodged a complaint that C Ve Shanmugam had made derogatory comments against the Chief Minister while protesting.

Aggrieved by the registration of two criminal cases the former minister moved two separate petitions seeking to quash the pending cases.