HC stays proceedings on defamation complaint against NGO

The Madras High Court on Monday stayed all further proceedings on the criminal defamation complaint filed by a Tamil Nadu minister against an NGO for levelling corruption charges against him in the media and on social media.

Jayaram Venkatesan of Arappor Iyakkam, the non-governmental organisation, had filed a plea seeking quashing of the complaint filed by the state municipal administration minister S P Velumani.

The city public prosecutor filed the complaint on behalf of the minister.

Justice Anand Venkatesh before whom the petition from Jayaram Venkatesan came up, posted the matter after eight weeks.

The judge stopped further proceedings pending before the Principal Sessions Judge, Chennai till disposal of the petition and issued notice to the government and minister.

The judge also dispensed with the personal appearance of Jayaram Venkatesan.

It was alleged that comments allegedly made by the petitioner in December last year on a TV channel were defamatory and made deliberately "with an intention of causing harm or knowing well that such imputation would result in harm to the reputation of the Minister and his administration."