AIADMK Pollachi MLA V. Jayaraman who has also served as the Tamil Nadu Deputy Speaker earlier, along with his son Pravin Jayaraman, has filed a civil defamation suit in the Madras High Court seeking ₹1 crore in damages from eight YouTube channels and three guest speakers for allegedly linking them to the infamous Pollachi serial sexual assault case.
Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy heard the matter on 29 May 2025 and adjourned it for a week, following a request from a junior counsel appearing on behalf of the plaintiffs. The judge also took on record a submission by senior advocate P.T. Perumal, who informed the court that he would be representing journalist and publisher Nakheeran Gopal, the first defendant in the case.
In their suit, the father and son not only seek damages but also a permanent injunction to restrain the defendants from making or publishing any statements—directly or through innuendos—that connect them to the sexual assault case. Additionally, they have requested the court to direct the defendants to bear the legal costs incurred in filing the present suit.
The plaintiffs have also filed two interim applications: one seeking an immediate order restraining the YouTube channels and speakers from continuing to circulate content implicating them in the case, and another requesting that existing videos be taken down.
According to the suit, the contentious videos were published on multiple platforms over three consecutive days in May. These include videos uploaded on 13 May 2025, by Nakheeran TV, AranSei, Jeeva Today, and Jambavan TV; on 14 May 2025 by Galatta Voice and The Debate; and on 15 May 2025 by Tamil Nadu Now and IBC Tamil.
The legal action follows a verdict delivered by a Mahila Court in Coimbatore on 13 May 2025, in which nine individuals were sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty in the Pollachi sexual assault case.
The next hearing in the civil defamation suit is scheduled for next week.
(With inputs from The Hindu)
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