Chennai, August 25 (IANS)

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s and senior leaders of AIADMK, Edappadi K Palaniswami and O. Panneerselvam who are being directed to appear before a special court on September 14 will move the Madras High court against the order. The duo was to appear before the court on September 14 by a special court hearing the cases related to MLA’s and MPs’. The leaders were to appear in the court in a defamation case filed against them by the former spokesperson of the AIADMK, Va Pugazhendi.

Sources in the AIADMK legal cell told IANS that the two leaders would again move the Madras High Court to quash the order of the Special court on personal appearance. The legal team of the AIADMK will be moving the Madras High court in a couple of days time

The former Chief Minister’s were to appear before the special court on August 24 and when the matter came up before the special judge, N. Alicia, the counsel for the leaders said that they were busy with the budget session of the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly and filed petitions seeking to dispense with their personal appearances in court.

The Judge then directed the leaders to appear before the court on September 14 and adjourned the matter.

It may be noted that the former spokesperson of the party Va Pugazhendhi filed a case against both the senior leaders after his expulsion from the party on June 14.

In his petition he alleged that the news of his expulsion was circulated in electronic, print, and social media and that the content of the letter tarnished his image before the AIADMK cadres. He accused the two senior leaders of an offense punishable under Sections 499(Defamation) and 500 (Punishment for defamation ) of the Indian Penal Code(IPC).