Soon after the inauguration of the special court on Thursday, a defamation case by the City Public Prosecutor filed against DMK president M.K. Stalin came up for hearing.
Advocate M. Shajahan, representing Mr. Stalin, filed a plea under Section 317 of the Criminal Procedure Code, seeking exemption from personal appearance in the court on the grounds that the DMK chief had prior political commitments.
The judge later adjourned the case to September 25.
Following a report in a vernacular daily about certain remarks made by Mr. Stalin, the then City Public Prosecutor had filed a defamation case against the DMK leader and a few others in February 2012.
The case was registered against the accused persons under Section 199 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code and sections 499, 500 and 501 of the Indian Penal Code.
