Chennai, August 28 (H.S.): The Madras High Court on Friday issued notice to former DMK president M.K. Stalin on a petition filed by Tamil Nadu PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna seeking Rs 1 crore in damages for allegedly defamatory statements made against him.

Justice K. Govindarajan Thilakavadi also issued notice to the DMK Information Technology Wing and posted the matter for further hearing on September 15.

Arjuna, a TVK leader, has filed a suit seeking damages and an injunction restraining Stalin and the DMK IT Wing from publishing similar statements concerning him.

In his application, Arjuna alleged that a false, malicious and defamatory statement concerning him was published through the official X account of the DMK Information Technology Wing (@DMKITwing) on June 8, 2026.

He claimed that the publication caused serious harm to his reputation, dignity, credibility and public standing.

Arjuna further alleged that the post was not an unauthorised act by an individual social media functionary, but was published with the knowledge, directions or approval of Stalin, whom he described as exercising overall control and supervision over the party's IT wing. He also held the DMK IT Wing responsible as the operator of the account from which the post was published.

According to Arjuna's plea, the allegation was based on an individual referred to in Enforcement Directorate proceedings being portrayed as his relative. He claimed that the person was neither his relative nor a close relative and that the allegation was published without verification or supporting material.

He further submitted that the person concerned had lodged a complaint with the Chennai Commissioner of Police stating that he was not the individual being referred to in the ED-related context.

Arjuna alleged that despite this, the statement was presented as a verified claim, which he described as reckless, irresponsible and malicious.

The High Court has sought responses from Stalin and the DMK IT Wing, with the matter scheduled to be heard again on September 15.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar