Tamil Nadu governor files criminal defamation suit against DMK orator

CHENNAI: In a rare, if not an unprecedented move, Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi’s office filed a criminal defamation complaint against a DMK orator, Sivaji Krishnamurthy, over his “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 a directive passed by the state government on January 15 seeking action against Sivaji 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 seeking to register a case of defamation over his 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 DV 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 Sec 499 and 500 of the IPC.
He added that the complaint, along with the video of the speech, was forwarded to the home department of the state government for action.
Based on the complaint, the state government passed the GO granting permission for the CPP to file a criminal defamation complaint against Sivaji on behalf of the governor.
The complaint filed by R N Ravi’s office before the Chennai principal sessions judge will be taken up for hearing soon.