DMK leader and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking dismissal, with costs, of a Rs 1 crore defamation suit filed by Minister Aadav.
The suit stems from an X (formerly Twitter) post in which Stalin referred to a person named John Britto as a relative of the minister in connection with an alleged Rs 258 crore drug-smuggling episode, citing an Enforcement Directorate statement. Aadav has denied any familial link with John Britto and moved the High Court seeking damages.
When the case came up for hearing again on September 22, Stalin filed a counter. In it, he contended that cases exist against the minister’s father-in-law, mother-in-law and the mother-in-law’s brother, and that Aadav has also faced a CBI case, arguing that the minister had not approached the court with “clean hands” and therefore was not entitled to relief.
Stalin further said he did not approve or instruct the DMK IT wing to publish posts linking John Britto, and that he cannot be held responsible for social media content put out by party wings. He also argued there was no evidence to support the claim that Aadav’s reputation was harmed, and sought dismissal of the suit.
The DMK IT wing sought time to file its response, following which the High Court adjourned the matter to October 26.
