Madras HC bars singer, film-maker from defaming Susi Ganesan – Times of India

CHENNAI: In a reprieve to director Susi Ganesan, the Madras high court on Thursday injuncted independent film maker Leena Manimekalai and singer Chinmayi Sripada from making defamatory statements against him till further orders.
The issue pertains to a sexual harassment allegation levelled by Manimekalai against Ganesan during the ‘MeToo’ movement.
Allowing an interim application moved by Ganesan seeking the injunction, Justice Abdul Qudhoose also restrained certain social media platforms and online news portals from uploading any such content.
And as the matter is sub judice, both Ganesan and Manimekalai are injuncted from going to the press on the dispute, the court said.
“Media is free to report the issue; the restriction is only to the parties to this plea,” the judge added.
The court passed the interim order on a suit moved by Ganesan seeking 1.1 crore as damages from Chinmaye for making defamatory statements against him.
Ganesan accused Manimekalai of vendetta in publishing a defamatory post on social media against him in 2017, alleging that she was a victim of sexual harassment while recounting an incident in the 2005 without accusing anyone in particular.
“After a lapse of one year, in 2018, Leena at the behest of Chinmayi under her attempts at allegedly exposing harassment in the Kollywood industry under the Me Too movement, belatedly and after much thought and deliberation alleged and published my name as the person, who allegedly restrained her in reference to the sexual harassment allegation,” Ganesan said.