Chennai, Feb. 7 -- The Madras high court on Thursday dismissed a plea by Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK) chief S Seeman challenging a case filed against him for his controversial remarks against former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The court said that no one should take advantage of Article 19 of the Constitution concerning freedom of speech.

Justice P Velmurugan refused to grant exemption for Seeman from appearing before a trial court. The case is from 2019 filed by a Congress party functionary against Seeman's speech against Rajiv Gandhi during the campaign ahead of the bypolls at Vikravandi in Tamil Nadu. Seeman, a Tamil nationalist, had allegedly made slanderous remarks and described Rajiv Gandhi as a "betrayer" of Tamils.

Seeman had move...