Court orders summons to N Ram & others

Court here today ordered issue of summons to five journalists, including former editor-in-chief of 'The Hindu' N Ram and Editor of Tamil magazine 'Nakkheeran', in connection with a defamation complaint moved against them by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Jayalalithaa had on January 23 filed separate complaints in the court against 'Nakkheeran' and 'The Hindu' accusing them of publishing 'derogatory and defamatory' comments about her eating habits.

Principal Sessions Judge P Kalaiarasan ordered issue of summons to Ram and a reporter of 'The Hindu' for their appearance in the court on March 5. The Judge also summoned 'Nakkheeran' Editor R Gopal, the Joint Editor and a reporter of the bi-weekly to appear before him on March 1. The complaint has been filed on behalf of the Chief Minister by the city public prosecutor under IPC sections 500 (punishment for defamation) and 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory).

'Nakkheeran' had on January 7 faced the wrath of irate AIADMK supporters who attacked its office and burnt copies of the magazine over publication of the report about Jayalalithaa's eating habits. Facing contempt of court proceedings, Gopal had expressed regret in the Madras High Court on January 12 for publishing the controversial comments and carried a regret message on the cover page of the magazine's next issue. Following this, the court had closed the contempt petition.