Controversial book on Judge G.R. Swaminathan: Tamil Nadu government files response.

Tamil Nadu: The government, in its response, stated that all posts and caricatures published on social media by Keezhikaatru Publishing House concerning Chennai High Court Judge G.R. Swaminathan have been removed.

Naveen Prasad, a resident of Vellore, had filed a petition in the Chennai High Court. He alleged that a controversial book criticizing High Court Judge G.R. Swaminathan, who had heard and delivered a judgment in the Thiruparankundram Deepath Fun case, was being published.

He claimed that the publishers intended to release the book at the 49th Chennai Book Fair. The book contained the judge’s photograph and name and was defamatory. Therefore, he requested that the publication of the book be banned.

The High Court, hearing the case, had ordered the seizure of the book. When the case came up for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice M.M. Srivastava and Justice G. Arulmurugan on Wednesday, the police filed a report.

The report stated that a thorough search was conducted at the Chennai Book Fair. When the stall allotted to East Wind Publishing House was searched, it was found that no such book was being sold there. Officials of the South Indian Booksellers and Publishers Association and East Wind Publishing House were summoned and questioned. They gave written assurances that the book in question had not been published or sold at the book fair.

Furthermore, all posts and caricatures published on social media by Keezhikaatru Publishing House, which were deemed insulting to Judge G.R. Swaminathan, have been deleted. It was stated that if the book is found to be sold at any exhibition or through electronic media in the future, it will be immediately seized and legal action will be taken. Taking note of this, the judges adjourned the hearing until February 4th.