The Madras High Court today stayed defamation proceedings in four courts against Khushboo even as the Tamil actress, in the centre of a controversy over her remarks on pre-marital sex, found support from the state units of CPI and CPI(M).Justice T V Masilamani, ordering a stay on the proceedings in Mettur, Poonamallee, Chengalpattu and Tiruvarur courts, said the Madurai Bench of the HC had passed similar orders.With this, the number of cases against Khushboo in which a stay has been ordered had gone up to 10. Proceedings against her are still on in five cases. The court also exempted her from appearing in these courts for four weeks.Meanwhile, CPI and CPI(M) today came to Khushboo’s defence. CPI state secretary D. Pandian said the agitations and the spate of cases by some sections against Khushboo was taking ‘‘undesirable dimensions’’ and had degenerated to the ‘‘low level’’ of dictating what kind of dress tennis star Sania Mirza should wear on court.The agitations seemed to be conducted with political motives, he said, in an indirect reference to Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Dalit Panthers of India (DPI), which are spearheading protests against the actress.Pointing out that the actress had only expressed her personal views, Pandian said those who did not agree with her could express their opposition in a manner conforming to democratic norms.
