The Madras High Court on Thursday issued a notice to AIADMK Spokesperson Babu Murugavel in response to a petition filed by Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker M. Appavu, seeking to dismiss the criminal defamation proceedings initiated against him by Murugavel.
Justice G. Jayachandran instructed Murugavel to provide a response detailing how Appavu’s statements were defamatory towards the AIADMK.
Murugavel had filed a private complaint against Appavu, alleging that a speech made by Appavu at a book release event in Chennai on November 21, 2023, contained defamatory remarks about the AIADMK.
In his complaint before a special court in July 2024, Murugavel claimed that Appavu made “fictitious” allegations, including statements suggesting that around 40 AIADMK lawmakers were willing to join the DMK after the death of Jayalalithaa in 2016 and that a prominent AIADMK leader had approached him to facilitate this shift in loyalties.
Appavu moved the Madras High Court on October 15, challenging the validity of Murugavel’s complaint. He argued that in cases where defamation against a political party is claimed, “only persons at the helm of affairs of the party” have the right to file such complaints.
Appavu further contended that Murugavel did not hold the position of President or General Secretary within the AIADMK, and therefore lacked the standing to pursue the defamation claim.
The Court has scheduled the next hearing for October 22.
