In a notice sent to the Tamil Nadu BJP chief, the MP sought an unconditional apology and demanded ₹100 crore in damages.
Published May 02, 2023 | 6:07 PM ⚊ Updated May 02, 2023 | 6:10 PM
TR Baalu and K Annamalai. (Sourced)
DMK treasurer and Sriperumbudur MP TR Baalu has said he will file a criminal defamation case against Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai for spreading false and baseless information.
Speaking to reporters at Pammal in the Chengalpattu district on Monday, 2 May, the lawmaker said he would file the case since the BJP leader had not withdrawn his allegation against him made in the “DMK Files”.
“He (Annamalai) has not responded to my legal notice. I gave him 48 hours to tender an apology. It’s been a week,” Baalu said.
“The deadline is over. On May 8, I am going to file a criminal defamation case against him, following a civil suit,” he added.
The Lok Sabha member also said that Annamalai published the DMK Files with an ulterior motive.
Earlier, Annamalai’s advocate Paul Kanagaraj said that the BJP leader had replied to the legal notice and refused to apologise.
On 20 April, denying the allegations made in the “DMK Files”, Baalu issued a defamation notice to the BJP state president through his counsel P Wilson.
Terming that charges — that he owned 21 companies and their assets to the tune of ₹10,841 crore — “false, baseless, unsubstantiated and defamatory”, Baalu sought an unconditional apology from Annamalai within 48 hours of receiving the legal notice.
He also demanded ₹100 crore in damages from Annamalai. He also demanded the former IPS officer remove the videos from public platforms.
Baalu also said that he would donate the ₹100 crore to the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund.
The DMK leader in his legal notice also asked Annamalai to desist from speaking, broadcasting, publishing, sharing, uploading, and disseminating or in any way communicating to the public the allegations made against him.
