The Madras High Court Bench here on Thursday stayed criminal defamation proceedings initiated by a lawyer against ‘Kaduvetti’ J. Guru, Pattali Makkal Katchi’s (PMK) floor leader in the Legislative Assembly, for his alleged offensive remarks against Dalits in an interview telecast in “Makkal Tholaikatchi” on December 16.
Justice G.M. Akbar Ali also dispensed with his appearance before the Kumbakonam Judicial Magistrate court in Thanjavur district until further orders.
The judge passed similar orders with respect to the the Makkal Tholaikatchi’s Managing Director who was also arraigned as an accused in the defamation proceedings initiated by an advocate, S. Vivekanandan, last year.