A defamation case filed by DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin (son of DMK head and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin) against popular YouTuber Maridhas has been dismissed by the Metropolitan Magistrates Court (Saidapet) court. The case revolved around Maridhas’ outspoken criticism of the late DMK leader and former Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, whom he had referred to as the ‘father of corruption’ in a video released in June 2020.
In the said video, Maridhas spoke about how Justice Sarkaria scrutinised the alleged misuse of government funds by Karunanidhi, dubbing it ‘scientific corruption,’. Maridhas then used this to address Karunanidhi as the ‘father of corruption.’ He did not shy away from making comparisons between former US President George W. Bush and the former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader, emphasising that while both had family members involved in politics, Karunanidhi’s influence was confined to a state within the Indian Union.
Maridhas had spoken about the accumulation of wealth during Karunanidhi’s 19-year rule, alleging that the DMK stalwart had amassed assets worth a staggering ₹25,000 crore. Drawing comparisons with the net worth of US Presidents Bush and Barack Obama, which he claimed was around 40 crores, Maridhas sought to underline the magnitude of the alleged corruption.
Furthermore, he delved into the details of the investigation led by former Supreme Court judge Ranjit Singh Sarkaria during the Emergency, where Karunanidhi and his administration faced allegations of rampant misuse of government funds. Termed ‘scientific corruption,’ this raised serious questions about the integrity of the government during that era.
Maridhas also shed light on several corruption cases that had been investigated and proven by various law enforcement agencies against Karunanidhi and his family. Notably, he pointed to an incident during the CN Annadurai regime where ₹10 crore (equivalent to ₹10,000 crore today) had been allocated for cleaning the Koovam river. When questioned by the opposition Congress, Karunanidhi, who was then the Public Works Minister, had attributed the expenditure to the protection of workers from alleged crocodiles in the river.
The most startling revelation came during Maridhas’ discussion of the Sarkaria Commission’s inquiry. He claimed that 30,000 sacks of sugar had gone missing from a government warehouse. Maridhas noted Karunanidhi’s bizarre explanation wherein he attributed the disappearance of the sacks to ants that had consumed the sugar and that termites devoured the sacks.
Maridhas accused Karunanidhi of amassing vast wealth during his 19-year rule and questioned how such riches could be accumulated in a relatively small state like Tamil Nadu. He asserted that his intentions were solely to prompt people to reflect on this matter.
Throughout his video, Maridhas made it clear that he had faced legal threats and intimidation in the past for voicing his views. He disclosed that DMK supporters had even threatened him after posting his video on M. Karunanidhi.
Subsequently, in 2020, the DMK filed an FIR against Maridhas, and a defamation case was initiated in the name of Udhayanidhi Stalin. However, on 7 September 2022, the Saidapet court dismissed the case noting the absence of both DMK representatives and Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin during the hearings.
The Metropolitan Magistrates Court (Saidapet ) dismisses Udhayanidhi Stalin's defamation suit case against Maridhas. pic.twitter.com/JTDu0DFK5l
— Maridhas (@MaridhasAnswers) September 7, 2023
Maridhas took to his Facebook page to share the news, stating, “The court dismissed the defamation suit filed by Udhayanidhi (for the video I published calling Karunanidhi the father of corruption). The reason is that Udhayanidhi is not ready to come and argue even for a day – and he talks about eradicating Sanatana Dharma. Where are all the DMK thugs who celebrated after filing the case? I have attended all the case hearings without fail. I thank all the lawyers and my friends who have extended their support to me in this case.”
(With inputs from Patrikai.com)
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.