Alleging that Sun TV was broadcasting news items that are derogatory and defamatory, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's son M K Azhagiri on Thursday sent a legal notice to the network's managing director Kalanidhi Maran.

The management of the Tamil newspaper Dinakaran, part of the same group as Sun TV, had in its complaint to police alleged that Azhagiri was responsible for the attack on its office in Madurai that left three persons dead.

Pon. Muthuramalingam, former minister and senior advocate, who sent the notice on behalf of Azhagiri, described the news involving Azhagiri as false and said the charges against him were frivolous and baseless.

He asked the network to desist from telecasting defamatory statements against Azhagiri, failing which legal action would be taken.

Azhagiri said he was never implicated in criminal cases as alleged by the network.

Regarding the Murugan Idly Shop case, the high court had observed that Azhagiri had not misused his position in any manner. The petition filed against him was dismissed by the high court. Sun TV was indulging in "false propaganda (by) suppressing the material facts in the three cases", he said.

Azhagiri said he had public support due to his dedicated public life and the "baseless allegations" were tarnishing his image and reputation.

Muthuramaligam alleged the Sun network was "willfully and wantonly making false and baseless allegations" to defame his client.

The notice was sent to V Raja, New Editors of Sun TV and Doyal, News Editor of Sun News.