Chennai: Taking strong exception to DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) president M Karunanidhi attributing personal motives against her in the arrest of the Kanchi Seer, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today (Nov 23, 2004) warned of legal action against all those making such "irresponsible and malicious statements".

"Such outrageous statements casting aspersions on my discharge of duties as the Chief Minister of the State will not be taken lightly and legal action will be taken against all those making such irresponsible and malicious statements," she said in a five-page hard-hitting statement.

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"Karunanidhi's malicious statement attributing personal dealings as the motive behind the arrest of the Pontiff is the height of absurdity. Everyone knows that it was Karunanidhi who had personal dealings with the forest brigand Veerappan.

It is malicious, nonsensical and outrageous to cast aspersions of a personal motive in a matter connected with a heinous crime, where the State law and order machinery has been doing its rightful duty," she said.

Karunanidhi's statements were a 'testimony' to his qualities of "double-speak, hypocrisy and malice and his ability to play double games," she said.