Tamil Nadu   

Maran files defamatory suit against Vaiko

Special Correspondent

Seeks damages for remarks against him

CHENNAI: Union Minister for Communications Dayanidhi Maran has moved the Madras High Court seeking Rs. 1 crore damages from Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko for making "highly defamatory and malicious" remarks against him.

According to Mr. Maran, the MDMK leader made the reported statements to "please his alliance partner, the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief," and to gain "cheap political mileage." He also sought Rs. 1 lakh each as compensation from Tamil daily Dinamalar and Mavis Sat Com Limited, which runs Jaya TV.

`Disregard for probity'

In his plaint, the Minister said Mr. Vaiko's charges against him — relating to licence for Raj TV, BSNL advertisements to Sun TV group, teleport licence for Jaya TV and reduction of national long distance licence rates — were made "with total disregard for probity, ethics and with a view to denigrate the high image and reputation" of Mr. Maran.

In this regard, he pointed out that the Centre's decision on Raj TV was upheld by the High Court, whereas the court imposed a cost of Rs. 50,000 on a petitioner who alleged that BSNL advertisements were illegally diverted to Sun TV group. The court did not find any wilful default in the Jaya TV teleport issue, he said. The long distance licence fee was slashed to enlarge the tele-density in the country.

Mr. Maran said the Tamil daily and Jaya TV published the statements "with the sole object of tarnishing his image and lowering his reputation in the estimation of the general public." Further, in response to a legal notice sent by his advocate P. Wilson, the MDMK leader said he would continue to make such statements till the elections were over. He sought to restrain Mr. Vaiko from making any speech or giving any statement or writing against him on the BSNL advertisement issue, as also the teleport and broadcast issues.

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