Court restrains BJP functionary, others from making defamatory allegations against Thol Thirumavalavan

The VCK president has filed a civil suit against them, claiming nominal damages of ₹1 crore

The Madras High Court on Thursday restrained a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary, a few journalists, an advocate and a writer from making and circulating defamatory statements against Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol Thirumavalavan who also represents Chidambaram Lok Sabha constituency in the Parliament.

Justice Abdul Quddhose granted the interim injunction on a civil suit preferred by the Member of Parliament seeking nominal damages to the tune of ₹1 crore from them for having harmed his reputation. The judge also ordered notices, returnable by January 28, to the respondents who had been accused of making the defamatory statements.

Senior counsel E. Omprakash told the court that Mr. Thirumavalavan was basically a lawyer who had been championing the cause of the downtrodden since his student days. He has been in active public service for the last 32 years and his political party now had four members in the Legislative Assembly and two in the Parliament. He also claimed to have earned a good reputation among Tamils spread across the globe.