Supreme Court Closes Defamation Case Against BJP Leader L Murugan Filed By Tamil Paper Murasoli

The Supreme Court today closed defamation proceedings against Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan initiated by the owners of the Tamil newspaper Murasoli after Murugan's clarification that he did not intend to harm the paper's reputation was accepted.

The Court was hearing a Special Leave Petition by Murugan against the Madras High Court's refusal to quash the private defamation complaint filed by the Murasoli Trust after Murugan made certain allegedly defamatory statements while being the Tamil Nadu State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

A two-Judge Bench comprising Justice B.R. Gavai and K.V. Vishwanathan ordered, "The Petitioner states that (he) never intended either to defame the Respondent Trust or cause any harm or injury to the reputation of the said Trust... On such statement being made, (the senior counsel), on instructions of the Trustees, graciously state that since the Petitioner has clarified that the Petitioner had no intention to defame the Trust or to cause harm or injury to the Trust, they do not intend to continue with the prosecution. We place on record our appreciation for the graciousness expressed by the Respondent. In that view of the matter, the impugned Order and the criminal proceedings are quashed and set aside."

As soon as the Bench ended the dictation of the Order, Justice Gavai, in a lighter vein, said Murasoli could start a 'breaking news' ticker on their TV channel.

Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the Murasoli trust, told the Bench yesterday that the statements Murasoli is claiming to be defamatory say that "the DMK is opposing all the good plans that the Modi government is bringing up" and "The land on which DMK's Murasoli newspaper is situated... when I was the VC of the NCSCS, the DMK raised objections that I should not enquire into the complaint on the parent title document. Okay Stalin, where is that parent title document? Why are you refusing to produce it? I believe you will not show the document, otherwise Scheduled Castes will give the appropriate response at the appropriate time."

Luthra said Murugan received the complaint when he was Vice Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, and had acted on it despite a stay Order from the High Court being in operation.

In the hearing yesterday, Luthra asked for an apology from Murugan for making statement that the Murasoli Trust claims were defamatory, but Senior Advocate K Parameshwar said, "There is no question of apology. There is apology only when there is defamation."

Justice Gavai told Luthra yesterday, “When you enter politics, you should be ready to receive all sorts of unwarranted, unnecessary compliments.” to which he immediately clarified, "But we are a newspaper. We are not into politics,". Justice Gavai promptly pointed out, "You are owned by a politician." Justice Vishwanathan had suggested Luthra yesterday, "He makes a statement here, it will be carried (in the media). You take the hint. It will be a good exit for you."

Cause Title: Dr. L. Murugan v. Murasoli Trust [SLP(Crl) 12091-12092/2023]