Former Kerala Minister Ordered to Pay Rs. 1 Crore for Defamatory Comments
Former Kerala Minister C. Sharmila has been ordered to pay Rs. 1 crore in damages for spreading defamatory comments against former minister C. Vijayabaskar. The High Court issued the order in response to a case filed by Vijayabaskar, who alleged that Sharmila had made false accusations against him.
The case stems from a complaint filed by Sharmila with the Tirunelveli Police Commissioner, in which she accused Vijayabaskar of allegedly borrowing Rs. 14 crore from her and only returning Rs. 3 crore. She claimed that he had threatened not to return the remaining amount. The complaint was then published in the media and on social networking sites.
Vijayabaskar subsequently filed a case in the Madras High Court against Sharmila, seeking damages for spreading defamatory comments. After a hearing, Judge N. Satish Kumar stated that Vijayabaskar, as a former minister, had a great responsibility in society and had performed well during the COVID-19 pandemic. The judge emphasized the importance of not making false accusations against him.
As a result, the court ordered Sharmila to delete her posts about Vijayabaskar on social media and also instructed the media to remove any news related to the defamatory comments. Additionally, Sharmila was ordered to pay Rs. 1 crore in compensation to Vijayabaskar.
The ruling serves as a reminder of the legal ramifications of making defamatory statements, especially against public figures. It also highlights the growing prevalence of social media as a platform for spreading potentially damaging information.