Chennai, Sept 17: R R Gopal, editor of Tamil bi-weekly magazine "Nakheeran", was today produced in the principal sessions court in connection with nine defamation suits filed against him by Tamil Nadu government for alleged remarks aimed at harming the reputation of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. The cases, including four suits filed against him since his arrest on April 11 last, pertain to alleged defamatory articles appearing in various editions of the magazine.

Principal Sessions Judge M Jeyapaul posted the petition for hearing on November 19. Gopal, who was taken into custody for question regarding the disappearance of a person, was initially charged under IPC for sedition after an unlicensed revolver and a pamphlet belonging to the banned organisation were allegedly recovered from his possession.

Pota was invoked against him five days later.

Bureau Report