The Madras High Court on Thursday granted an interim injunction until further orders restraining a Tamil weekly from publishing any article against actor Laxmi Raibagi alias Lakshmi Rai.
Justice R.Sudhakar passed the order on an application in a civil suit filed by the actor through counsel Abudu Kumar Rajaratnam.
She submitted that the magazine ‘Kumudam’ had published “defamatory and derogatory statements” against her in the issue dated March 6 and circulated on February 27.
The article spoiled her image. It had been published without “any basis or truth and with a malafide intention” of damaging her reputation. Following the publication, she had to spend much of her time in replying to her family members, neighbours and friends who were making enquiries.
In addition to the printed version, the magazine also carried the matter in the electronic media. Unless the publication was restrained forthwith, Ms. Lakshmi Rai said she would suffer irreparable loss and hardship. She also apprehended that the magazine may publish further defamatory articles in its magazine and the electronic media in future. A bare reading of the published article would substantiate her claim.
In view of the facts and circumstances, she was constrained to approach the court seeking an injunction restraining the magazine from carrying any article against her in the magazine and through the electronic media.
In the suit, she claimed damages of Rs.30 lakh from Kumudam Publications Pvt. Ltd. and a reporter, Thenikannan, with an unconditional and unequivocal apology to her which should be published.
Ms. Lakshmi Rai said she had filed the complaint because the article published in the magazine was not only baseless and controversial, but also defamed her.
"The reporter did not even speak to me but the article had my quotes. The magazine had put me on the cover and had my posters. The story was completely wrong. It has really affected my personal life and professional image."
Nowadays Kumudam is indulging in yellow journalism and poaking its nose into the personal affairs of Actors just to boost its sales.Once upon a time Kumudam is to carry excellent novels on History, stories, Science, and a separate section for children and jokes etc. Who can forget historical novels like "Yavana Raani," "Raja Berigai," " Raja Mudhdhirai" Nangooram ,etc All those items have simply vanished from Kumudam, and what it contains only Cinema News, Actors interviews, and rest are all minor things. Even One page stories are not readable and it never raises any specific interest.So what it has done is totally unexpected, unwarranted from this Kumudam. Once upon a time I was its staunch reader fro 45 years and now I do not even like to glace over it.Kumudam has lost its credibility and standard.
Please Email the Editor