Madras High Court dismisses plea against Rajinikanth over Periyar remark

Chennai: In a relief to actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth, the Madras High Court on Friday (January 24) dismissed a petition filed against him over his controversial remarks on rationalist leader E V Ramasamy 'Periyar'. Dismissing the case against the superstar, the court asked the petitioner why wasn't the plea taken to a magistrate court first.

Justice P Rajamanickam was hearing a petition by the secretary of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, a fringe outfit, seeking direction to the police to file a case against the actor. State Public Prosecutor A Natarajan submitted the petitioner had approached the court without seeking the alternative remedy available to them.

Referring to a High Court judgment which clearly mentioned the procedures to be adopted for approaching the court, he said the petitioner had filed the complaint only on January 18 and without even waiting for the outcome directly approached (the court) for a direction to the police to register a FIR.