Unwanted remarks part of politics: SC to Murasoli Trust

THE Supreme Court on Wednesday said that one should be ready to receive unwarranted and unnecessary compliments upon entering politics.

- SUCHITRA KALYAN MOHANTY

The court made the observation while hearing a plea by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan against criminal defamation proceedings initiated against him by Chennai-based Murasoli Trust. Murasoli newspaper, published by the trust, is the mouthpiece of DMK, the ruling party of Tamil Nadu.

"Free speech issues, you have to have breathing space," the bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan said.

A complaint was lodged by Chennai-based Murasoli Trust against Murugan for his alleged defamatory statements during a press meet in December 2020.