In a reprieve for Union Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh, a Chennai court has thrown out a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh defamation suit against him.

The defamation suit was filed after the minister alleged that the RSS had a hand in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

"The averments made in the complaint do not substantiate the commission of offence of defamation," Metropolitan Magistrate K Ramanathan said in his order.

The complaint was filed by Durai Shankar, RSS's Tamil Nadu Unit president.

The petition claimed that the then home minister Vallabhbhai Patel's letter to the then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had clearly stated that the RSS was not involved in the Mahatama's assassination.