Responding to summons issued by the Principal Sessions Court last year in a defamation case, Leader of the Opposition and DMDK leader Vijayakant made his appearance before the court on Friday.
He had not appeared before the court during previous hearings. On one occasion, the court had issued a non-bailable warrant against him and it was later recalled. As he remained absent, the court had also warned of issuing another warrant.
Mr. Vijayakant entered the hall accompanied by his party men and lawyers. After recording his presence, G. Chockalingam, Principal Sessions Judge, posted the matter for further hearing on October 30.
The defamation complaint pertains to Mr.Vijayakant’s speech which was telecast in Captain TV criticising Chief Minister in derogatory manner.
The complaint was filed by M.L. Jegan, City Public Prosecutor (CPP) on behalf of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on December 13 last year. It also sought to punish Mr.Vijayakant for defamation in respect of the speech he made against Ms. Jayalalithaa which was also telecast on Captain TV on October 26 last year.
Later talking to the media, Mr. Vijayakant said he would fight the cases against him legally.
The noisy crowd that accompanied him to the court disturbed the routine functioning of the 50-odd subordinate courts located there. Several lawyers complained how such a large crowd was allowed inside despite the security system in place in the court complex.
