A Chennai Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea filed by Dravidar Vidhuthalai Kazhagam (DVK) seeking directions for police to register an FIR against superstar Rajnikanth over his remarks during a speech on EV Ramasamy Periyar.
Earlier this year, Madras High court had dismissed the petition filed against Actor Rajnikanth for his speech in which he said, “In 1971, at Salem, Periyar took out a rally in which undressed images of Lord Sri Ramachandramoorthy and Sita -with a garland of sandal-featured and no news outlet published it. Cho strongly condemned the event by Periyar immediately and Thuglak was the only magazine to do so. This brought a bad name to the ruling DMK who did not want the magazine to be circulated. The issue was seized by the government but Cho reprinted it and the magazine was sold in black. What was sold for Rs 10, was then sold for Rs 50 and Rs 60. Dr. Kalaingar had (inadvertently) promoted the magazine in that way and in the next issue, Cho had thanked him as its publicity manager… “
The DVK had filed a complaint accusing that Rajnikanth defamed Periyar. The DVK sought action against Rajinikanth under IPC Sections 153 (a) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.) and 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief).
Rajnikanth, however, refused to tender an apology for his comments on Periyar. The superstar said, “I did not makeup what I said, there are even published stories in media on it. I can show them. I will not apologize.”
