The Madras High Court Thursday stayed all further proceedings in a criminal defamation case against PMK youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss in a lower court.
Justice P N Prakash passed the interim orders on a petition by Ramadoss and dispensed with his appearance before the special court till its (petition) disposal.
In his order the judge said, "The Case has been transferred to the Special Court constituted exclusively for trial of cases against MP's and MLA's.
"The petitioner is directed to appear before the Special Court within two weeks from the date of receipt of this order and on such appearance he shall execute a bond for Rs 5,000 without surety Under Section 88 Cr.Pc."
Thereafter, the petitioner shall give an undertaking that he would appear before the Special Court without waiting for summons in the event of Criminal Original Petition getting dismissed, the order said.
"Thereafter the appearance of the petitioner before the special court dispensed with till the disposal of Criminal Original petition," the judge said.
The matter relates to a criminal complaint filed against Ramadoss by the City Public Prosecutor with regard to a press statement issued by him on the Tamil Nadu government's decision to transfer all the pending investigation idol theft cases to CBI.
Alleging that the statement issued by Ramadoss amounted to 'criminal defamation,' the City Public Prosecutor filed a criminal complaint in the Principal Sessions Court here.
Ramadoss then filed a criminal original petition seeking to quash the proceedings before the Principal Sessions Judge.
But as a separate Court was constituted to deal with the cases relating MP's and MLA's, Anbumani Ramadoss being an MP of Dharmapuri, the case was transferred to the Special Court.
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