DMK treasurer and Sriperumbudur MP T.R. Baalu and former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai.
DMK treasurer and Sriperumbudur MP T.R. Baalu and former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai have withdrawn their defamation complaints against each other.Mr. Baalu had filed a criminal defamation complaint in May 2023 after Mr. Annamalai, then the Tamil Nadu BJP president, released the ‘DMK Files’ at a press conference alleging that the senior DMK leader had amassed wealth through corrupt means. Terming the allegations false and baseless and spread with the intention to tarnish his reputation, Mr. Baalu sought prosecution of Mr. Annamalai for criminal defamation.During the trial in that case, Mr. Annamalai filed a criminal defamation complaint in 2026, alleging that Mr. Baalu had made defamatory remarks against him during a cross-examination before a magistrate court in Saidapet. He contended that the statements, relating to his personal life and finances, were unconnected to the subject matter of the trial and had harmed his reputation. On Tuesday, the court recorded the withdrawal of Mr. Baalu’s complaint, while Mr. Annamalai informed the court that he was not pressing his complaint, bringing both proceedings to an end. Richardson Wilson, counsel for Mr. Baalu said both sides filed petitions to withdraw the cases. Published - June 30, 2026 11:34 pm IST
