In a statement in Chennai, Karunanidhi said taking legal action would become inevitable if the Sun Network continued its mudslinging campaign against the ACTC.

Coming to the defence of RCV, floated by his Madurai-based son Azhagiri, the chief minister said in a democracy, anyone could venture into any business.

The Sun TV's [Get Quote] claim that launching of RCV was aimed at scuttling ACTC operations in Madurai [Images] was imaginary, he said and added that whichever be the Multi-Service-Operator, it should function only with the cooperation of the ACTC.

Describing the fears that ACTC would not beam in Madurai, Karunanidhi said from September 15 onwards ACTC would start functioning in Madurai, Chennai and Tirunelveli.

Singling out Sun Network for not sharing its channel feeds to the ACTC, Mr Karunanidhi said when every other channel like Jaya TV and Makkal TV had associated itself with the ACTC, the Sun Network's attitude revealed its adamant nature.

''Is it not the duty of a channel to share its feed with the cable operators, he asked.

Referring to the Sun-promoted MSO SCV and Azhagiri's RCV row in Madurai, the chief minister said he had directed police to take strict action against those involved in disturbing peace in in Madurai.

Karunanidhi also described as ''blatant lie,'' Sun Network's claim that it was not sharing its feed with the ACTC.

''According to their statement they are holding talks with the authorities. This means that they had not shared the feeds so far. This is the truth,'' he added.

It may be recalled that ever since the Marans, the grand-nephews of Mr Karunanidhi, fell out of favour with the first family of the State, the Tamil Nadu government formed the ACTC aimed at scuttling the monopoly enjoyed by the largest MSO SCV in the state.