CM MK Stalin withdraws 90 cases filed against journalists

Tamil Nadu government has decided to withdraw 90 cases including the charges of defamation filed against journalists, newspapers, magazines and media houses in the state.

Chennai: Chief Minister MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government has issued an order to withdraw a total of 90 cases filed against journalists, newspapers, magazines and media houses in the state including the cases of defamation.

According to an official statement, from 2012 to February 2021, about 90 cases were filed against the editor of the daily and weekly newspapers for defamatory speech and news releases. These include four cases against the editor of The Hindu, five cases against the editor of the Times of India, and one case against the editor of the Economic Times daily.

Read:|Family of slain journalist seeks repatriation of mortal remains to India

"There were 12 cases against the editor of Dinamalar daily, nine cases against the editor of Ananda Vikatan weekly magazine, 11 cases against the editor of Junior Vikatan magazine, 23 cases against the editor of Nakkeeran magazine, 17 cases against the editor of Murasoli daily and four cases against the editor of Dinakaran daily," the statement read.

Editors and artists of TV 7, News 7, Sathiyam TV, Captain TV, NDTV, Times Now, who were charged with seven defamation cases have also been acquitted, the statement added.

Read:|Migrants' protest in Mumbai: FIR against TV journo

The move comes in the view of MK Stalin fulfilling his election promise which he mentioned in the manifesto of the DMK party during the campaigning for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Read:|It is a bit disconcerting: Journalist Vijaita Singh on Pegasus phone tapping