Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam leader Vijayakant on Wednesday termed “false” the charge against him in a defamation case filed by the government before the Thanjavur District Principal Sessions Court.
Mr. Vijayakant was accused of making denigrating remarks against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at a meeting organised to mark his birthday here in August 2012. He had appeared in the court in February but failed to appear for three subsequent hearings.
On September 11, District Principal and Sessions Judge R. Sethumadhavan issued an arrest warrant against the Leader of the Opposition and ordered that he be produced on September 23. Following his appearance on Wednesday, the arrest warrant against him was withdrawn.
The judge read out the charges against Mr. Vijayakant and asked whether he accepted them. Mr. Vijayakant replied that the charges were false.
When Government Pleader A. Kuppusamy wanted to examine witnesses in the case, Raghavendran, advocate, appearing for Mr. Vijayakant, raised objection stating that a petition challenging the case was pending before the Madras High Court. The judge posted the matter for further hearing on November 28.
Later, Mr. Vijayakant told presspersons that the defamation cases provided him an opportunity to meet his party cadre and people. He alleged that 50 to 60 cases had been foisted against him and DMDK members.
