Annamalai says he stands by 'DMK Files' allegations after defamation suit withdrawn

K Annamalai said DMK MP TR Baalu has withdrawn the Rs 100 crore defamation case linked to his DMK Files allegations. He said he stands by every claim and noted the development comes as his 'We the Leaders' movement moves towards becoming a political party.

In Short

• Annamalai stands by all allegations made in the 'DMK Files' campaign
• Ex-Tamil Nadu BJP chief cross-examined Baalu personally during trial
• Annamalai's 'We the Leaders' movement aims to become political party in July

Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Tuesday claimed that DMK MP TR Baalu has withdrawn the Rs 100 crore defamation suit filed against him over the BJP leader's "DMK Files" allegations, asserting that he continues to stand by every claim he made against the previous DMK government and certain party leaders.

In a post on X, Annamalai said Baalu had filed the defamation case after he published details of the alleged assets and companies owned by the senior DMK leader and his family through his "DMK Files" campaign.

"Thiru TR Baalu filed a defamation case against me for publishing the assets/companies owned by him and his family through DMK Files, and he had sought Rs 100 crores in damages," Annamalai wrote.

The former state BJP chief said that, after a certain stage in the trial, he argued the case himself and personally cross-examined Baalu, adding that the details of the proceedings were already in the public domain.

Annamalai further alleged that during one of the cross-examinations, Baalu made "defamatory remarks" against him in court without any basis, prompting him to file a separate case against the DMK MP over those statements.

"Today, Thiru TR Baalu, out of his own wishes, decided to withdraw the defamation case filed against me by him. He filed the defamation case against me; to carry it further or not was his decision and not mine," he said.

Reiterating his position, Annamalai said he continued to stand by "every single remark" he had made against the previous DMK government and certain members of the ruling party.

He also thanked advocates Paul Kanagaraj, Kumaraguru and members of the BJP legal team for supporting him during the trial, ending his post with the remark, "Truth always triumphs!"

The development comes days after Annamalai announced that his newly launched "We the Leaders" movement is on course to be converted into a political party in July. He has said the organisation aims to enrol 50 lakh members and position itself as a people-centric political alternative in Tamil Nadu, focusing on issues such as governance, corruption and the growing drug menace in the state.

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