Tamil Nadu ministers ask court to reject DMK defamation case request

Tamil Nadu ministers Aadhav Arjuna and C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar have asked the Madras High Court to reject the DMK’s request to pursue a ₹1 crore defamation suit against them. The case concerns statements linked to a child sexual abuse matter pending against R.

Veeramani of Gem Granites, The Hindu reported. In a counter affidavit filed through senior counsel Vijay Narayan, Nirmal Kumar denied making false or defamatory statements about the DMK. He argued that the proposed suit was not maintainable because procedures under the Code of Civil Procedure had not been followed.

Kumar said the statements attributed to him were made in his official capacity as a minister and during media interactions about serious issues concerning child sexual abuse. He argued that Section 80 of the CPC required the DMK to serve notice before filing the suit or obtain the High Court’s permission to waive that requirement. He said neither step had been taken, and urged the court to dismiss the application with exemplary costs.

He also argued that the DMK could not describe the statements as official when establishing jurisdiction and then claim that he had been sued in his personal capacity. Arjuna filed a similar counter affidavit through senior counsel Satish Parasaran, assisted by Dixita Gohil and Pranjal Agarwal. The matter was expected to be listed before Justice K.

Govindarajan Thilakavadi on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.