Madras High Court Restrains Udhayanidhi Stalin From Making Defamatory Allegations Against EPS; He Had Sought Damages Of Rs 1.1 Crore

Justice RN Manjula of the Madras High Court today (21 September) granted an interim injunction for two weeks against Chief Minister MK Stalin's son Udhayanidhi Stalin from making defamatory allegations against All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS).

Palaniswami had filed a suit seeking damages of Rs 1.1 crore from Udhayanidhi for saying that he was involved in corruption cases and the Kodanad estate case.

The plea submitted by Palaniswami stated that Udhayanidhi had made the allegations in a statement issued by him days after his comments calling for the eradication of Sanatana Dharma.

Senior Counsel Vijay Narayan, who represented Palaniswami, said that his client was not linked to the Kodanad case and had never been summoned during the investigation and there was no corruption case against him.

He added that while DMK leader RS Bharathi had lodged a complaint alleging corruption in tenders for highway construction, no FIR had been lodged against Palaniswami, and such allegations were damaging to his reputation.

Justice Manjula then ordered the interim injunction and also issued notice to Udhayanidhi.

In another case filed by Palaniswami seeking the Court to restrict former chief minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) from calling himself the coordinator of the AIADMK, using the party flag, symbol and letterhead, Justice Manjula granted time till 6 October to Panneerselvam to file his reply.