Today, On 5th December, The Supreme Court quashed defamation proceedings against Union Minister L. Murugan, set aside a Madras High Court order from September 5, 2023. The High Court had previously refused to dismiss the case. A Supreme Court bench ruled in favor of Murugan, providing relief from the allegations. The decision highlights the judiciary’s role in addressing disputes over legal interpretations in defamation cases.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court quashed the criminal defamation proceedings brought by the Murasoli Trust against Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan, related to comments he made during a press conference in December 2020.
A Bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan closed the case after the Trust, represented by senior advocates N.R. Elango and Siddharth Luthra, acknowledged Murugan’s assertion that he had no intention to harm the Trust’s reputation.
The Trust is known for operating a prominent newspaper affiliated with the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu.
Senior advocate K. Parameshwar, representing Murugan, emphasized that his client had no intention to defame the Trust and made his statements as a political party leader.
Justice Gavai, addressing the Trust during the proceedings on December 4, 2024, remarked,
“When you enter politics, you should be ready to receive all sorts of unwarranted, unnecessary compliments… In free speech issues, you need to give breathing space.”
The court noted that being in politics requires a thick skin against criticisms, stating,
“Parties should fight their battles before the public.”
The defamation complaint was originally filed in a Chennai court, and the Madras High Court declined to quash it in September of the previous year, prompting Murugan to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court, which initially stayed the proceedings.
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In December 2020, Union Minister L. Murugan, then Tamil Nadu BJP President, allegedly made defamatory remarks against the Murasoli Trust, associated with the DMK party. The Trust filed a criminal defamation complaint, asserting that Murugan’s statements aimed to tarnish its reputation. Murugan sought to quash the proceedings, but on September 5, 2023, the Madras High Court declined, stating he should face trial.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court stayed the proceedings and, in November 2024, quashed the defamation case, emphasizing resilience in political discourse.
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