Chennai: Former chief minister and DMK president M K Stalin on Tuesday told the Madras high court that he could not be held liable for every post published through the social media accounts of the various wings/functionaries of DMK.
The submissions were made in the counter-affidavit filed against the Rs 1 crore defamation suit moved by PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna against Stalin for allegedly linking him in a Rs 258 crore drug trafficking case. Pointing out that Aadhav Arjuna had called him a ‘foolish chief minister’ twice, which was not a mere political criticism of a particular governmental policy but a personal and derogatory attack upon him, Stalin said, therefore, Aadhav Arjuna who had indulged in publicly abusing him cannot claim any reputation or goodwill. Therefore, he is not entitled to claim any damage to his reputation, he added. His relative, P John Britto, had complained to the Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police that he was being wrongly identified as the man arrested in the narcotics case because their names were similar, according to his suit.
“Though I am the head of the party and exercise administrative control over the office-bearers of various wings of the party, I cannot be legally responsible or liable for any individual acts of the members or wings of the party,” Stalin said. The fact remains that the PWD minister has not denied in his plaint that he has a relative by name John Britto and that the said John Britto is facing a criminal case and is being prosecuted by the Enforcement Directorate ,” Stalin said. Earlier reporting noted: Not liable for every DMK social media post: Stalin to HC on Aadhav Arjuna plea Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin on Tuesday told the Madras High Court that he could not be held responsible for “every social media post” made by different wings or functionaries of his party merely because he was the party president. Earlier reporting noted: “Though I am the head of the party and I exercise administrative control over the office-bearers of various wings of the party, I cannot be legally responsible or liable for any individual acts of the members or wings of the party,” Stalin said in a counter filed in a civil defamation suit filed against him by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) minister Aadhav Arjuna.
The issue pertains to a post made by DMK IT Wing describing John Britto , an accused in a drug trafficking case as Arjuna’s relative. “Assuming, but not admitting, such a post was published, it is put to strict proof of his claim that the alleged post was published under the knowledge, consent and authorisation of the former chief minister and that it is defamatory.
Earlier reporting noted: Arjuna has denied having any connection with the accused.