Chennai: A fortnight after a city special court convicted and sentenced BJP leader H Raja to six months’ imprisonment in two separate cases for criminal defamation, he has approached the Madras high court on appeal. He alleged that the judgment rendered by the trial court was absolutely untenable as it was neither in accordance with the law nor in consonance with the evidence available on record. Hence, the impugned judgment is liable to be set aside, he said.
On Dec 2, Chennai special court for cases against MPs and MLAs sentenced him to six-month imprisonment but suspended the sentence for 30 days to enable him to file an appeal. The issue pertains to cases registered against Raja in 2018 for making derogatory statements against social reformer Periyar, former CM M Karunanidhi and Tuticorin MP M Kanimozhi.
Passing the order, the special court pointed out that in the plea moved before the HC, the accused took a stand that he expressed his opinion about the social reformer who was an atheist. However, he took a different view before the trial court, saying he didn’t post the message.
