DMK Chief M Karunanidhi appears before court

Amid high drama, wheel chair-bound DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Monday appeared before a sessions court in connection with a defamation case filed against him by chief minister J. Jayalalithaa.

Principal sessions judge N. Authinathan took about a minute to record the appearance of 92-year-old Karunanidhi, a former chief minister, and adjourned to March 10, further hearing of the case.

Following a defamatory statement issued by Karuanidhi, city public prosecutor M.L. Jagan filed the present defamation complaint on behalf of the Tamil Nadu chief minister.

On Monday, hundreds of DMK partymen gathered outside the Madras high court premises and waited to receive their party leader from 10 am. Similarly, the principal sessions court witnessed an unusual crowd as hundreds of DMK lawyers thronged the court.

Mr Karunanidhi arrived at 10.20 am and reached the court hall by wheel chair at 10.25 am. The judge came to his dais at 10.30 am and barely took a minute to record the appearance of Mr Karunanidhi and adjourned the matter to March 10. The crowd waiting inside and outside the court hall, raised slogans praising Mr Karunanidhi when he arrived and left the premises. The police had a tough time in controlling the crowd.

Mr Karunanidhi said justice will prevail. “I have nothing new to say. Justice will prevail, and people should unite behind justice,” he told reporters. He alleged that defamation cases are filed for “anything you mention about the state government”. When asked about the defamation cases filed by the state government, he said even the top court had a few months ago made a mention on the issue.