Madras High Court quashes case against former DGP for false WhatsApp message about CM MK Stalin

The Madras High Court has quashed criminal proceedings initiated against former Tamil Nadu Director General of Police and former AIADMK MLA R Nataraj, for allegedly having forwarded an offensive message about Chief Minister MK Stalin on a WhatsApp Group..In an order passed on July 30, Justice G Jayachandran said he was inclined to quash the proceedings since Nataraj had expressed regret over his conduct.Nataraj filed an affidavit before the Court apologising for having forwarded such message without verifying its correctness. He also filed an affidavit in Court expressing regret over his action and undertook to circulate such affidavit on the same WhatsApp group that he had forwarded the alleged offensive message..Advocate General PS Raman, who appeared for the TN government, told the Court that if Nataraj was honestly regretting his conduct, then the State will not prosecute him provided he circulates a copy of his affidavit on the WhatsApp group. The complainant too insisted that the affidavit copy be forwarded to the same WhatsApp group.The Court recorded these submissions and agreed to quash the proceedings against him..“The Learned Counsel appearing for the complainant submits she will be satisfied, if the petitioner forwards the affidavit copy in the whatsapp group in which the offensive message purportedly forwarded in his name and the defacto complainant she has no objection for the Court to quash the complaint. Recording the affidavit of the petitioner and the submissions made by the Learned Advocate General on behalf of the State, this Criminal Original Petition is allowed,” the High Court said..In November 2023, the Trichy police had registered a case against Nataraj Friday for allegedly spreading fake news about the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Chief Minister Stalin. The complaint was filed by one Sheela, a member of the Trichy central district advocates’ wing of the DMK.The complainant alleged that Nataraj had forwarded a message on a WhatsApp group consisting of 73 members about a statement on the DMK not wanting any “Hindu votes,” purported to have been made by MK Stalin. It was further alleged that the message had been forwarded “to create enmity and ill-will between the two groups.”.Senior Counsel B Kumar and Advocate Govind Chandrasekar appeared for Nataraj, the petitioner.Advocate General PS Raman, Additional Public Prosecutor R Muniyapparaj, and Advocate G Prabhakaran appeared for the respondent-State..[Read Order]