The state government has slapped a notice on one of the leading Tamil Daily ‘Dinamalar’, seeking explanation for publishing what it called false news about the Kalaignar Housing Scheme and the Mullaperyar Dam issue.

A government statement said “The news has been published with an ulterior motive to create public opinion against the government and to disturb peace”.

“A legal notice had been sent to the newspaper asking it to issue a retraction, failing which the government would take appropriate criminal proceedings for defamation and also take appropriate civil proceedings for damages”, according to Government Pleader Raja Kalifulla. He called for a statement in the next issue of the daily withdrawing the “baseless, mischievous and malicious statement.”