Monday, June 20 2005 18:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: A Sessions Court today (Jun 20, 2005) posted to August 19 hearing on a defamation suit filed against DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) president M Karunanidhi in connection with some remarks he allegedly made over the arrest of Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi.

On June 13, the Tamil Nadu Government initiated defamation proceedings against DMK President M Karunanidhi for allegedly attributing political, personal and sinister motives behind the 'delayed' arrest of Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi in the Sankararaman murder case.

The suit said the alleged defamatory speech by Karunanidhi on November 22 last against the functioning of the Government, published in English and Tamil newspapers, intended to harm the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's reputation in discharge of her public function and duty.

Stating that some of the remarks were irresponsible, the Government said they were made in 'a desperate bid' to deflect attention from the heinous and barbaric murder of the temple employee Sankararaman on September 3 last and deliberately create a bad name for the Government.

Inquiries and investigations in criminal cases are the exclusive powers and functions of the State police and no one including the Chief Minister, could interfere, the suit said, adding though Karunanidhi is a former Chief Minister, he had allegedly attributed political and personal motives for the delayed arrest and incarceration of the Seer. The suit sought to punish him for defamation.

The Seer was arrested by Tamil Nadu police in connection with the murder at Mehboob Nagar near Hyderabad on Nov 11.

The Sessions court Judge, K Jayabalan, posted the suit for hearing on August 19.