Vijaykant supporters, prosecutors clash in court

Unruly scenes were witnessed in a court here today as some Public Prosecutors, supporters and counsel of DMDK leader Vijayakant allegedly exchanged blows when he appeared before it in a defamation case.
The Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly along with some of his supporters was later booked by police for allegedly preventing the PPs from discharging their work, police said.
Irked by the disruptions, Principal District Sessions Court Judge Chinnaraj returned to his chambers till order was restored. The case was later adjourned.
Trouble erupted when Vijaykant's supporters allegedly banged the doors of the court hall and shouted slogans as the Judge had taken up a murder case trial since the DMDK leader turned up late, police said.

When the matter came up later, the Public Prosecutor Gnanasekaran told the Judge that Vijayakant's supporters were disturbing the court proceedings.
As Vijayakant allegedly stared at him, the PP advised him to look at the Judge and also allegedly asked him to stand in the accused box, leading to the scuffle between the two sides.
The PP later told reporters that Vijaykant's supporters attacked him and his reading glass was broken in the melee.
Vijayakant has been charged with allegedly making defamatory remarks against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on October 14 last year at a public meeting.