₹100-crore defamation suit filed by M.S. Dhoni: Madras High Court orders commencement of trial

On September 1, 2026, the Madras High Court overturned the conviction and six-month imprisonment of BJP leader H. Raja in two criminal cases. Senior counsel N. Ananthapadmanabhan argued that the trial court's decision in December 2024 could not be upheld, leading to the court's decision. The first case involved a tweet made by Mr. Raja on his X account on April 18, 2018, which contained offensive remarks about former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and his daughter Kanimozhi.

The charges under Sections 153, 504, and 509 of the Indian Penal Code were dismissed. The second case concerned a tweet made in support of the demolition of Thanjavur Periyar's statue in March 2018, for which Mr. Raja was sentenced to six months of imprisonment. The trial court had found him guilty under Sections 153 and 504 of the IPC.