Kerala Court Prevents 'Marunadan Malayali' From Publishing Defamatory Content Against Actor Prithviraj

The Additional Sub Judge, Ernakulam on Monday passed an injunction against the Malayalam news portal ‘Marunadan Malayali’ preventing the channel from publishing any defamatory content against popular Malayalam Film industry actor Prithviraj Sukumaran.

The interim injunction was passed in a civil defamation suit filed by the actor claiming damages of Rs. 10 Crore. The suit was filed subsequent to certain articles and videos published by Marunadan Malayali in the month of May alleging that the actor had paid a fine of Rs. 25 Crores due to proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department. The news channel also claimed that the actor is making propaganda films funded by a ‘Qatar based mafia’ pumping in black money into the Malayalam film industry. Managing Chief Editor of the Channel, Shajan Skariah is also a party to the suit. 

“… by falsely characterising the Plaintiff as a tax evader who settles to avoid proceedings, and as one engaged in propaganda films, the Plaintiff's reputation and good will has been lowered and the aspersions has lowered his stature in front of his audience” the actor’s plea stated.

The ad-interim injunction has restrained the channel from “making, posting, publishing, uploading, distributing, and/or re-publishing any false, defamatory and libellous content against the Plaintiff on any platform whether online or offline which results in the violation of the Plaintiff's right to privacy and right to life and which can tarnish the plaintiff's goodwill and reputation.”

After the first two videos were published by the news channel pertaining to the issue, the actor had issued a statement on social media denying the allegations. The actor had also stated that he would be taking legal action for the defamatory content being propagated against him. Subsequently, Marunadan Malayali, published a third video stating that the actor has also paid a fine for proceedings initiated by the GST Department.

The actor contended that the channel has made false allegations against him without providing any evidence on matters that could have easily been verified by it. The channel also 'failed to exercise the basic journalistic decency' of enquiring about the version of the other side before publishing an adverse story against them, the actor's plea stated.

“The statements have been made with the ulterior motive of creating a scandal and thereby attracting publicity and viewership to the 1st Defendant Channel. The said defamatory statements were published knowing very well that the statements are false, will harm the Plaintiff’s reputation, goodwill and standing and intending so." the actor’s plea stated.

The Actor was represented by Advocates Santhosh Mathew, Vijay V Paul, Gokul Krishnan R, Uttara P V, Samah Abdul Majid, and Shilpa Soman.

Case Title: Prithviraj Sukumaran V. Marunadan Malayali & Others

.