Remarks linking Dharmasthala: T.N. MP files defamation case against Karnataka BJP MLA

Member of Parliament (MP) from Congress in Tamil Nadu and a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from Karnataka, Sasikanth Senthil has filed a criminal defamation case against Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and former Minister G. Janardhan Reddy, for his statements linking Mr. Senthil to a “conspiracy to defame Dharmasthala”.

Mr. Senthil filed the case before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court on Saturday.

Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru on Saturday, Mr. Senthil asserted that he had no connection with the Dharmasthala case and rejected the allegations made by Mr. Reddy. He said that the “baseless allegations” made against him were part of a coordinated attack by the “Hindutva right-wing forces” against him for opposing their politics.

“Political considerations of Tamil Nadu’s State politics also seems to be having an impact here,” he said.

“I have filed a criminal defamation case against Janardhan Reddy, who had taken my name. The court has taken cognisance of it. He will be served a notice. He (Reddy) will have to come and answer to the court as to on what basis allegations were made against me,” he said, adding that the hearing on the case will be on September 11.