A day after expelled AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam termed his former party college Edappadi K. Palaniswamy as a "betrayer", the EPS faction on Thursday sent a legal notice to the former for allegedly using the party's name, flag and seal.
"You have no semblance of right to use the name of the AIADMK party, or its seal, or even the office address, for, the legal possession of the headquarters is with the interim general secretary of my client (Palaniswami), as held by the High Court and thereafter confirmed by the Supreme Court", the notice said.
The notice also accused OPS of resorting to "cheap tactics” of forging the seal of the party headquarters and a letterhead, which is “wholly a criminal act, liable for punishment in law". It further said OPS using the party flag is "outright illegal" which amounts to "fraudulent misrepresentation and forgery" and that he is "liable to be punished as per the penal laws".
The notice claimed that the EPS faction lawfully possesses the AIADMK headquarters and OPS cannot claim possession of the party as per the high court order in July 2022 regarding the general council meeting case. As an outsider to the AIADMK, OPS doesn't have any right to use the name of the party or portray himself as its coordinator and treasurer, it said.
"My client further states that your conduct is not only in violation of the orders of the High Court dated 20.07.2022 and the Supreme Court dated 12.09.2022, but also of the Division Bench of the High Court in O.S.A. No. 227, 231 and 232 of 2022 wherein, the validity of the General Council Meeting held on 11.07.2022 was upheld. My client states that when the order of the Division Bench dated 02.09.2022 is in vogue, you have no right to hold yourself out and misrepresent as a Coordinator of the Party, especially when the Hon’ble Supreme Court has also not interfered or modified any portion of the order passed by the Division Bench. My client reiterates that the order of the Division Bench dated 02.09.2022 is very much in force and as such binding upon all the parties to the said litigation," the notice said.