Premalatha exempted from appearance in defamation case

The Madras High Court today dispensed with the personal appearance of DMDK founder leader Viijayakant's wife Premalatha before the Judicial Magistrate Court in Gobichettypalayam in Erode district in a case registered against her for allegedly defaming a minister.
Justice KBK Vasuki dispensed with the appearance of Premlatha and issued notice to Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of police and posted the matter for further hearing to September 23.
Based on a complaint by the AIADMK town secretary, the Gobichettipalayam police had registered a case against her under various sections of IPC including 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace).

The allegation was that during the Lok Sabha poll campaign in April she defamed Environment Minister Thoppu N D Venkatachalam in connection with the distribution of drought relief.
She had alleged that out of about Rs 25 crore allotted by the government as drought relief, only a small portion was distributed and the balance amount was given to the relatives of the minister.
After an investigation, police filed a final report before the the Judicial Magistrate of Gobichettypalayam, who took cognisance of the offence and issued summons for the personal appearance of Premalatha.
Challenging it and seeking to quash all further proceedings in the case, she moved the High Court.