Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy: Annamalai Sends Defamation Notice To DMK Leader RS Bharathi, Demands Rs 1 Cr Compensation

Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai has issued a legal notice to DMK Organisation Secretary RS Bharathi, demanding Rs one crore in damages for alleged slanderous and false propaganda linking him to the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, which claimed nearly 60 lives. Annamalai made the demand with the intention to utilise the compensation to establish a de-addiction center in the affected area of Karunapuram, Kallakurichi.

Announcing the legal action on social media, Annamalai's advocate RC Paul Kanagaraj shared details of the defamation notice. "Here's the copy of the defamation notice sent today to the Organisation Secretary of DMK, Thiru RS Bharathi, for spreading slanderous, false propaganda aimed at me to divert the attention from the misgovernance of the DMK, which led to the death of over 60 people in Kallakurichi," Annamalai stated.

"We have sought ₹1 Crore in damages, which will be used to construct & operate a deaddiction centre in Karunapuram, Kallakurichi," he said on X.

The notice accused Bharathi of holding the BJP responsible for the tragedy and making unfounded allegations against Annamalai, which it claims have tarnished his reputation.

Kanagaraj specified that Bharathi has been given three days to issue an unconditional apology.

Earlier, during a press briefing, DMK Organisational Secretary RS Bharathi directly accused Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai of the incident. Bharathi's remarks were prompted by Annamalai's earlier call for Chief Minister MK Stalin's resignation following the tragedy.

Bharathi alleged that the BJP bore responsibility and they were the ones behind this. He said, "I'm labeling this a deliberate conspiracy orchestrated by Annamalai."