The Madras High Court on Thursday refused to grant an ex parte interim injunction restraining DMK president M.K. Stalin from making speeches accusing Municipal Administration Minister S.P. Velumani of being corrupt and having links to one of the accused in the Pollachi sexual abuse case.
Justice R. Subramanian rejected the plea for an ex parte injunction and instead ordered notice to Mr. Stalin on a civil suit preferred by Mr. Velumani, in his individual capacity, seeking notional damages of ₹1 crore and one rupee for a speech he made at Thondamuthur in Coimbatore district on April 4. In his plaint, the Minister listed out his achievements beginning from his college days. He was a loyal member of the AIADMK and got elected as president of Kuniyamuthur Town Panchayat in 2001 and later became its chairman after it was upgraded into a municipality. In 2006, he was elected from Perur Assembly constituency and continued the winning streak from Thondamuthur constituency in 2011The then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa (since dead) inducted him in to the council of ministers.
The Minister said Mr. Stalin had levelled baseless and unsubstantiated charges against him. Apart from accusations related to corruption in awarding civil contracts by local bodies, Mr. Stalin had alleged that the prime accused in the Pollachi case was an associate of the Minister.
