Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi files defamation case against DMK orator

CHENNAI: In a rare, if not unprecedented move, Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi's office has moved a criminal defamation complaint against a DMK orator, Sivaji Krishnamurthy, for his reported "abusive, defamatory and derogatory" speech against the governor.
The video of the speech went viral on social media last week. Chennai city public prosecutor G Devarajan filed the complaint on behalf of the governor, based on an order passed by the state government dated January 15 seeking action against Sivaji Krishnamurthy under sections 499 and 500 of the IPC.
The complaint filed before the Chennai principal sessions judge S Alli on Thursday will be taken up for hearing soon. On January 13, governor's deputy secretary S Prasanna Ramasamy lodged a complaint with the Chennai city commissioner of police against Sivaji Krishnamurthy seeking to register a case against him for his alleged defamatory speech.
Marking a copy of the video, he said in the complaint that "the abusive and intimidatory speech attracts offence under Section 124 (assaulting President or a governor with intent to compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful power) of the IPC besides other relevant sections of the law".
On January 14, deputy commissioner of police (cybercrime) D V Kiran Shruthi addressed a communication to the governor's office informing that the alleged speech was found to be defamatory in nature and fell under the ambit of sections 499 and 500 of the IPC.
He added that the complaint, along with the video of the speech, had been forwarded to the home department of the state government for action. The state issued a government order granting permission for the CPP to file a criminal defamation complaint against Sivaji Krishnamurthy on behalf of the governor.