Explained: 30-year Sukanya-Veerappan case, and why Sun TV has to pay Rs 10 lakh
Ruling is a reminder of the responsibility of broadcasters and publications while publishing content, even if opinions voiced in the content aren’t the platform’s
A three-decade-old defamation battle has finally reached its conclusion. The Madras High Court has upheld a trial court order directing Sun TV to pay actress R Sukanya ₹10,00,500 in damages for airing defamatory remarks made about her by forest brigand Veerappan in a 1996 interview.
The ruling is a significant reminder about the responsibility of broadcasters and publications while publishing content even if the opinions voiced in them aren’t reflective of the platform’s standings.
What was the case about?
On April 17, 1996, Sun TV broadcast an interview with the infamous bandit, conducted by journalist Rajagopal, also known as Nakheeran Gopal. During the interview, Veerappan made a series of unverified and damaging claims about Sukanya, then a leading Tamil actress.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu elections: Veerappan’s family enters fray, seeks to recast his legacy
She filed a defamation suit that same year, arguing that the broadcast had severely damaged her dignity and reputation in the eyes of her family, friends, and the public. She initially sought ₹1 crore in damages but later restricted her claim to ₹10,00,500.
In 2015, a Chennai civil court ruled in her favour and directed Sun TV to pay the claimed amount. Sun TV appealed the verdict, setting the stage for the long legal battle that has now concluded.
What did Veerappan say?
In the interview, Veerappan made unverified claims about an alleged personal relationship between Sukanya and the son of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. He further claimed that a video involving them had been used by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa as a bargaining chip with the Congress party ahead of the 1996 general elections.
Sukanya categorically denied all the allegations, calling them false and defamatory.
What does recent judgment say?
Justice K Kumaresh Babu of the Madras High Court dismissed Sun TV's appeal last week, holding that the channel had failed to exercise basic due diligence before airing the interview.
The court noted that Sun TV had full editorial control over the broadcast — its agreement with Nakheeran Gopal gave it the right to edit, cut, delete, modify, or alter any part of the interview. Having held that power, the court ruled, Sun TV had an equal responsibility to verify the contents before putting them on air.
Also Read: On the trail of Veerappan: Walking in the footsteps of a feared brigand
The court also rejected Sun TV's argument that it could not be held liable since it was not the originator of the defamatory statement. It further declined to give the channel any credit for a subsequent apology, which had been published not on its own broadcast but in a Tamil magazine.
The court observed that publishing a regret in a third-party magazine — one with no proven reach among Sun TV's own viewers — only demonstrated malice on the channel's part. The appeal was dismissed and the ₹10,00,500 damages award was upheld.
Who is Sukanya?
Sukanya is a popular actress who rose to prominence in Tamil cinema during the 1990s. She made her debut with Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu in 1991 and went on to deliver memorable performances in hits such as Chinna Gounder (1992), Walter Vetrivel (1993), and Kamal Haasan's landmark films Mahanadhi (1994) and Indian (1996).
Her versatility also saw her act in Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada films. She later transitioned to television, earning a new generation of fans through the popular Tamil serial Anadham. She was last seen in the film Thee Ivan (2023), a box office dud.