In a major relief for Union Minister L. Murugan, the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the criminal defamation case filed against him by the Chennai-based Murasoli Trust.
The Trust alleged that Murugan made defamatory comments during a press conference in December 2020.
A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan delivered the judgment after Murugan’s counsel argued that the minister had no intention to harm the Trust’s reputation. The court noted that the Trust’s legal representatives had acknowledged Murugan’s clarification that there was no intent to defame or cause harm, and as a result, they no longer wished to proceed with the case.
“We appreciate the graciousness shown by the respondent (Trust),” the bench remarked.
The Court’s ruling overturned the September 5, 2023 decision of the Madras High Court, which had refused to quash the defamation proceedings. “In light of these circumstances, the challenged order and the criminal proceedings are quashed,” the bench concluded.
Murugan, who serves as Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, had filed an appeal challenging the Madras High Court’s ruling. During the hearing on Wednesday, the bench commented that politicians must be prepared for both praise and criticism once they enter public office.
The Supreme Court had earlier, in September 2023, stayed the defamation proceedings against Murugan pending in a special court in Chennai and requested a response from the Trust.
The Trust’s complaint had accused Murugan of making statements designed to tarnish its reputation. However, the Madras High Court had dismissed Murugan’s plea, noting that it could not assess the validity of the allegations at this stage.
The high court had directed the Chennai trial court to resolve the case within three months, while allowing Murugan to raise his defense in the trial court.
With the Supreme Court’s decision, the defamation case against Murugan is now dismissed.
