Tamil Nadu ministers seek dismissal of DMK defamation case

Two Tamil Nadu ministers have moved the Madras High Court seeking dismissal of a defamation case filed against them by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), contending that procedural requirements were not met. Ministers Aadhav Arjuna and C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar argue that the political party did not issue prior notices as mandated under Section 80 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) before initiating legal action. The provision requires that a party must give the accused advance notice of intent to prosecute for defamation, allowing an opportunity for out-of-court settlement. The ministers' petition challenges the validity of the case on these procedural grounds, maintaining that the DMK's failure to comply with statutory requirements renders the proceedings defective. The matter is expected to be heard by the high court as it examines whether the foundational legal requirements for initiating defamation proceedings were satisfied in this instance.