Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin directs withdrawal of defamation cases against media outlets

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday ordered the withdrawal of 90 defamation cases against journalists, dailies and television channels.

The cases were filed between 2012 and February 2021 against editors, printers and publishers of newspapers and television channels when the AIADMK was in power.

Between 2011 and 2016 alone, the Tamil Nadu government initiated 213 defamation lawsuits against persons who criticised former CM J Jayalalithaa.

The list of 213 cases was presented to the Supreme Court by the Tamil Nadu government in 2016 during a defamation case procedure after the Supreme Court inquired about the defamation cases filed by the then-AIADMK government.

Earlier in 2019, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) sued former Tehelka Managing- Editor Samuel Mathew and six others for allegedly publishing a video clip linking EPS to the 2017 Kodanad robbery. He had even demanded Rs 1.10 crore in damages.

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