Subramanian Swamy files defamation suit against Telugu daily

Tirupati, March 10 : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy said on Wednesday that he has filed a defamation suit against vernacular Telugu daily ‘Andhra Jyothi’ for allegedly publishing false material against the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the custodian of the Sri Venkateswara shrine at Tirumala.
The defamation suit reportedly seeks a compensation of Rs 100 crore.
“It is necessary to set an example. Andhra Jyothi has crossed the limits of telling lies. Therefore the notice was served. If it is ignored, we will fight the matter in the court,” Swamy said in the temple town, flanked by a bevy of lawyers.
Swamy said the defamation suit encompasses both criminal and civil dimensions. Under the criminal dimension, Swamy has invoked IPC Sections 153, 295 and others, which entail serious offences relating to creating enmity between communities.
“In terms of dues that should be paid, it will be a civil litigation in which I myself will appear on behalf of the TTD, because they want me to take up the case,” he said.
Swamy said that he visited Tirupati on Wednesday for some signing and certification work related to the Andhra Jyothi case, and promised that he would keep seeing the journalists in this state quite often before beginning the question and answer session after his presentation.