The XVII Metropolitan Magistrate Court adjourned the case to 24 August. The BJP leader vowed to continue his fight against corruption.
Published Jul 14, 2023 | 5:07 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 14, 2023 | 5:10 PM
“I am ready to face the case filed against me. We are ready to take on every big name of DMK followed by TR Baalu. Part 2 and 3 of the DMK files will be released during my padayatra" Annamalai said
Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai said he would release the second part of the DMK Files, a compendium of corruption charges against the ruling party leaders, at the beginning of his padayatra — or foot march — later this month.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, 14 July, after appearing before the XVII Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Saidapet in Chennai in connection with a defamation suit filed against him, the BJP leader said the ongoing battle was between the third generation of corrupt DMK leaders and first-generation youngsters against corruption.
DMK treasurer TR Baalu filed the case after he was named in the first part of the DMK Files.
Annamalai said that since Baalu had not declared all his assets in his election affidavit, he would request the judge to summon his family members — including his sons, minister TRB Raja and TRB Rajkumar — for cross-examination.
Appeared before the Saidapet Metropolitan 17th Magistrate today honouring the summon served for exposing the illicit wealth amassed by DMK MP Thiru TR Baalu & his family through part 1 of #DMKFiles.
We have complete faith in our judiciary & we will surely see the truth beyond… pic.twitter.com/egkVQQgYEW
— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) July 14, 2023
“I am ready to face all cases filed against me by the DMK for exposing their corruption. We are ready to take on every big name in the DMK after TR Baalu. Part 2 and 3 of the DMK Files will be released during my padayatra,” he said.
The padayatra, En Mann En Makkal (My Land, My People), is slated to begin on 28 July.
“This battle will continue. We won’t hide like DMK ministers in hospitals,” he said, in an apparent reference to V Senthil Balaji, who underwent coronary bypass surgery after his arrest by the Enforcement Department.
“I will appear on the next date. We are not as powerful as the DMK. We have only the people’s support and we will show it whenever we come to the court,” Annamalai said.
Senior Civil Judge Anitha Anand posted the case for 24 August and directed Annamalai to appear before the court that day.
The first instalment of the DMK Files, released on 14 April, said Baalu declared assets worth ₹2 crore in 2004 and ₹20 crore in 2019 while submitting his nomination papers.
Annamalai also named 21 companies, having a total value of ₹10,841.10 crore, which he said were owned by Baalu.
The DMK leader termed the allegations “false, baseless, unsubstantiated, and defamatory”, and sought an unconditional apology from Annamalai.
Baalu also demanded ₹100 crore in damages from Annamalai. He also demanded that the former IPS officer remove the videos from public platforms.
Baalu also said that he would donate this ₹100 crore to the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund.
He filed the defamation case after the BJP leader refused to apologise.
Baalu, the DMK’s floor leader in the Lok Sabha, said in his petition that Annamalai released the DMK Files, which was streamed live on Facebook, and was also telecast on TV channels and YouTube channels.
Baalu said in his case that the video contained several vile and reckless statements that were per se false, defamatory, and have scandalous imputations against him.
He contended that Annamalai dragged the names of his family members, including his wife, though only his son TRB Rajaa is in public life, serving as the MLA from Mannargudi.
Baalu argued that displaying the names of his spouses and children, who were not in public life, violated their right to privacy, and hence the accused was liable to be prosecuted for it.
The DMK leader also submitted that he was in no way associated with the companies Annamalai had mentioned, except three: Kings India Power Corporation, Kings India Chemicals, and Meenam Fisheries.
He said Annamalai attempted to create a misconception among the public that the complainant had accumulated wealth illegally.
The baseless allegations were made with the sole intention to tarnish his reputation, Baalu said.
“It is also pertinent to note that the alleged values of the companies mentioned in the slide show are completely false and baseless and not based on any cogent evidence or materials,” Baalu argued while requesting the court to prosecute Annamalai under Section 500 (Punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code.
