Karunanidhi, Murasoli editor told to appear in court on Apr 29

Court directed DMK chief M Karunanidhi and editor, printer and publisher of party mouthpiece `Murasoli` Selvam to appear on April 29 in 2 defamation cases filed against them by Tamil Nadu gov.

Chennai: A local court on Monday directed DMK chief M Karunanidhi and editor, printer and publisher of party mouthpiece `Murasoli` Selvam to appear before it on April 29 with regard to two defamation cases filed against them by the Tamil Nadu government. Principal Sessions Judge P Kalaiarasan directed the DMK chief and Selvam to appear before him on that day.

The state government had filed the defamation complaint on Feb 8 over Karunanidhi`s remarks against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on the reasons behind delay in release of actor Kamal Haasan`s controversial spy thriller `Vishwaroopam.` Karunanidhi in an article titled `Poonaikutti Veliye Vandhuvittathu` (The cat is out of the bag) had cited reports suggesting that a TV channel close to AIADMK wanted to buy the film but the producers had refused, saying they had spent over Rs 100 crore, a charge refuted by the Chief Minister. He had also referred to reports that at a recent function Hassan wanted a `dhoti clad` Tamilian to become the Prime Minister`, an apparent reference to P Chidambaram. Another case was filed by the government on behalf of a state minister over an article published by `Murasoli` on Aug 23 2012 where the DMK chief criticised the functioning of ministers. PTI