Defamation case slapped on rediff.com

Chennai/Hyderabad, July 15: A criminal defamation case was filed on the web portal which carried a news item on the health condition of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on July 10. Chennai city public prosecutor ML Jagan filed defamation case against Rediff.com India Limited reporter Ramasubrahmanyam, CEO Ajit Balakrishnan, Chief Editor Nikhil and senior associate editor Abhishek Mandela at principal sessions court on Wednesday. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's absence for a few events along with Iftar party hosted by the AIADMK earlier this month, led to speculations about her health. In this context, rediff.com carried a news item under the title, 'Chennai media knew Jaya's health was not fine but kept mum' on July 10.