In October 2009, Dinamalar published an article claiming that several
Tamil film actresses were involved in
prostitution along with pictures and names. The
South Indian Film Artistes' Association petitioned to have the senior sub editor arrested and staged a rally condemning the same. The rally was led by
Rajinikanth with other actors including
Vijayakanth,
Sarath Kumar and
Suriya. The senior sub editor of the newspaper, Lenin was arrested under Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act and was sent to judicial custody. He was released on the next day on protests from Chennai Press Club, Madras Union of Journalists,
Press Trust of India and the
Indian Newspaper Society. Dinamalar stated that the news was obtained from ethical sources and there was no secondary agenda. In February 2012,
Vanniyar Sangam leader and
Member of Legislative Assembly,
Kaduvetti Guru lodged a complaint to Police Commissioner seeking the arrest of Dinamalar editor Krishnamurthy and its publisher Lakshmipathy for publishing news insulting the
Vanniyar caste and trying to create
caste violence. The article published by Dinamalar read, "Vanniyars do not interact and keep their distance with other castes. Vanniyars been involved in anti-social activities due to poverty and even though they have show elevated status in society, they are widely known for their
violence and oppressive behavior. Due to this, other
castes follow an unwritten rule to not do business with Vanniyars. Due to this, Vanniyars are introducing themselves in the community as
Gounder in order to avoid professional harm."
Pattali Makkal Katchi's leader
G. K. Mani asked why Dinamalar hates Vanniyars so much and also said that the newspaper had constantly defamed the Vanniyars. In September 2019, A Judicial Magistrate in Krishnagiri sentenced
the Editor and the Publisher of Tamil daily Dinamalar to two years’ imprisonment in a defamation case filed by a police inspector. The Judicial Magistrate passed the order on a private complaint lodged by an inspector, who was posted in Krishnagiri in 2005. The complainant said in a column “Tea Kadai Bench”, published in the daily, it was alleged that he received kickbacks from those trading in illicit liquor that was transported from Bengaluru into Tamil Nadu via Hosur. Besides, the report alleged that he had acquired properties through illegal means. Though he had sent a legal notice to the daily seeking damages of ₹10 lakh, the publication did not respond to it. The lawyers representing the editor and the publisher had argued that it was the duty of the media to hold those in positions accountable. However, the magistrate held that the article was not backed with evidence and lent to “gossip mongering”. The court said the write-up, that had not named the complainant in the allegations, however, ended up directly naming him as a conversational tool. == References ==