UPDATE 10:40 am IST: The defamation case against M Karunanidhi has been adjourned till 10 March. 

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M Karunanidhi will appear in the Madras High Court on Monday in connection with a criminal defamation case filed against him by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. 

The DMK chief has been accused of writing a defamatory article about the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) state government in the DMK mouthpiece 'Murasoli'. 

Security has been increased at the Madras High Court ahead of Karunanidhi's appearance  before the Principal Sessions Judge, The Hindu reported. 

Security officials and court authorities had even conducted a mock drill over the weekend to prepare for Karunanidhi's appearance, according to The Times of India. 

Tamil Nadu will go to polls this year and a stiff battle is likely between arch-rivals DMK and AIADMK. 

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