In a heated exchange of legal notices, DMK organizing secretary RS Bharathi has challenged Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai to substantiate his allegations of DMK involvement in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy. Bharathi’s reply comes in response to a legal notice from Annamalai, which demanded Rs 1 crore for allegedly tarnishing his image by blaming him for the deaths.Bharathi’s notice asserts that Annamalai’s accusations are part of a larger strategy to defame and discredit DMK president MK Stalin and other DMK members, especially in light of the BJP’s electoral struggles in Tamil Nadu. He stated that Annamalai has frequently resorted to defamation, as evidenced by the numerous defamation cases against him.
“As a responsible politician, Annamalai must have supported the government’s efforts to bring the Kallakurichi hooch perpetrators to justice and assist the victims and their families instead of playing petty politics,” the notice read.
Bharathi firmly denied Annamalai’s demand for an apology and challenged him to proceed with further legal action, stating that he would defend himself in accordance with the law. Additionally, Bharathi’s notice demanded that Annamalai issue an unconditional apology for linking the DMK to the hooch tragedy and pay Rs 2 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for damages.
The notice warns that failure to comply will result in appropriate civil and criminal proceedings against Annamalai.
The exchange began on June 26, when Annamalai sent a legal notice to Bharathi seeking Rs 1 crore in damages for allegedly blaming him for the hooch deaths in Kallakurichi. This ongoing legal battle underscores the escalating political tensions between the BJP and DMK in Tamil Nadu.