The Madras High Court has scheduled April 15 to frame issues in a civil suit filed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in 2019 against Ananda Vikatan publications. The suit demands damages of ₹1.10 crore for an article alleging that the DMK received ₹500 crore from lottery baron Martin Santiago for electoral funds. Justice C.V. Karthikeyan seeks clarification on whether the defamation pertains to the political party or the individual plaintiff, and whether the party’s bylaws authorize the president to file a suit on its behalf for defamation.