Summons to Stalin over statements against Jaya

Chennai: A local court on Friday asked DMK leader MK Stalin to appear before it on March 9 over "false and per se defamatory" statements he made last month to the media after filing a police complaint against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Besides Stalin, Principal Sessions Judge P Kalaiarasan also ordered issue of summons to the Editor, Printer and Publisher of 'Tamil Murasu' daily RMR Ramesh for publishing the "defamatory news item", for appearance on the same day.

On December 2, Stalin had submitted a petition to the state DGP accusing Jayalalithaa of usurping lands in Kodanadu in Nilgiris district and Siruthavur near here and sought registration of FIRs against her.

After presenting the complaint to the city police, Stalin gave a press statement.

Stalin's complaint and the press statement were "defamatory," the city public prosecutor, in his complaint filed on behalf of the chief minister, claimed.