The Madras High Court Thursday issued a notice to AIADMK Spokesperson Babu Murugavel on a petition filed by Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker M Appavu seeking quashing of criminal defamation proceedings initiated against him on a complaint by Murugavel.

Justice G Jayachandran directed Murugavel to file a reply explaining how the statements made by Appavu amounted to defaming AIADMK.

Murugavel had registered a private complaint against Appavu claiming that a speech made by the latter at a book release event held in Chennai on November 21, 2023 was defamatory towards AIADMK.

In his private complaint before a special court in July this year, Murugavel had said that Appavu defamed the AIADMK by making “fictitious” claims, including a statement that around 40 AIADMK lawmakers were ready to join the DMK after Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016 and that a prominent AIADMK leader had contacted him to facilitate the shifting of loyalties.

Appavu approached the Madras High Court on October 15 challenging the maintainability of Murugavel’s complaint.

As per his plea, when defamation of a political party is alleged, “only persons at the helm of affairs of the party” can file a complaint.

Appavu told the Court that Murugavel was neither the President nor the General Secretary of the Party and therefore, he had no locus to file the defamation complaint.

The Court will hear the matter further on October 22.

Senior Counsel P Wilson and advocate Richardson Wilson appeared for Appavu.