A metropolitan magistrate court in Chennai on Friday dismissed a criminal defamation suit filed against DMDK leader Vijayakanth by former Tamil Nadu electricity minister Arcot N Veerasamy.

The former DMK minister filed the defamation suit against Vijayakanth in 2007 for the DMDK leader's alleged statement about an income tax raid at his house.

On January 23, 2007, income tax officials raided houses and offices of Vijayakanth in the state. Terming the raids as "political vendetta," Vijayakanth allegedly said the raid had been conducted to settle a political score by DMK chief M Karunanidhi, who was the chief minister then. This sparked protests by DMK members who said Vijayakanth's remarks tarnished Karunanidhi's image.