The Supreme Court dismisses the defamation trial against Union Minister L. Murugan

The Minister of State (MoS) for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan. File | Photo Credit: Akhila Easwaran

The Supreme Court quashed and set aside the criminal defamation proceedings instituted by the Murasoli Trust against the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan for his comments during a press conference in December 2020.

A Bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan closed the case after the Trust, represented by senior advocates NR Elango and Siddharth Luthra, accepted the statement of Mr. A reputable and prominent newspaper associated with the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu.

Senior lawyer K. Parameshwar, representing the Minister and a BJP leader, said his client had no intention of defaming the Trust.

The court recorded the presentation of Mr. Parameshwar that his client made a statement as a leader of a political party.

Justice Gavai, when the case entered on Wednesday (December 4, 2024) was adjourned to December 5, he had told the Trust that “if you enter politics, you must be ready to receive all kinds of unnecessary, unnecessary compliments… In matters of free speech, you need to give room to breathe”.

The court said that in order for a person to survive in politics, he must suffer from barbs. “Parties should fight their battles in front of the public,” he said.

Complaint for defamation of Mr. Murugan was filed by the Trust in the Chennai court.

The Madras High Court refused to dismiss the defamation suit in September last year, following which Mr.

The high court had earlier adjourned the hearing of the defamation case before the Special Court in Chennai.