HC refuses to gag MK Stalin for speech against SP Velumani.

CHENNAI: The Madras high court, once again, declined to restrain DMK president MK Stalin from making allegations of corruption in corporation tenders against state minister for local administation, SP Velumani.

Refusing the interim relief sought by the minister, who had filed a civil suit seeking Rs 1 crore in damages from Stalin for allegedly damaging his reputation by making such statements, Justice R Subramanian directed the leader of opposition to file his response by April 29.

The primary allegation of minister Velumani was that Stalin made several speeches during his election campaign in Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency alleging that the minister was involved in corruption relating to local body tenders and that an accused in the Pollachi sexual abuse case was closely associated with him.

In his suit, Velumani wanted the court to direct Stalin to pay Rs 1 crore as damages to the defamation caused to him and the AIADMK through Stalin’s speeches made across Coimbatore during his election campaign from April 4. The minister further submitted that based on his complaint, the Coimbatore police had already registered criminal cases against Stalin for his derogatory speeches.