Derogatory speech against TN Governor: Defamation case against DMK leader

chennai, Jan 19 (IANS)

The Chennai City public prosecutor Thursday filed a defamation petition at the Principal District sessions court, Chennai, against DMK platform speaker, Shivaji Krishnamoorthy for an alleged derogatory speech against Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi 

The Chennai city public prosecutor, G. Devarajan in a statement said, “ The Governor of Tamil Nadu R.N. Ravi is the aggrieved person and the complainant is the public prosecutor , Chennai presenting this complaint on behalf of the Governor, before this court.”

The Rajbhavan had asked the city police to take action after a video of Shivaji Krishnamoorty using extremely abusive, derogatory, and defamatory language against the Governor. Deputy Secretary to the Governor, Prasanna Ramaswamy in a complaint to the Greater Chennai City Police commissioner said that the speaker was also seen using intimidation tactics against the Governor.  The complainant said that the video had gone viral on various social media platforms and wanted the police to take proper action against the individual who was seen in the video speaking against the Governor.

The Chennai City police on scrutinizing the video said the speech was defamatory and hence falls under the ambit of Section 499 (Defamation) and 500 ( Punishment for defamation ) under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

In the complaint before the Principal Sessions Court, the city public prosecutor G. Devarajan submitted that the Government of Tamil Nadu has accorded sanction to him in a government order dated January 15 to file this complaint. He also said that the speech was circulated on various social media platforms with the intention to harm the reputation of the Governor and that this was not in good faith.

The complainant also asked the court to take cognizance of the complaint and punish the accused Shivaji Krishnamoorthy and punish him for offenses under Section 499 and Section 500 of IPC.

The DMK high command had on January 14, suspended the accused from the primary membership of the party for violating party discipline.