Tamil Malar has sought RM50 million from Deputy Youth and Sports Minister M Saravanan over allegedly defamatory remarks against the daily.

The daily's owner City Team Media Sdn Bhd had filed the defamation suit at the Kuala Lumpur High Court last Friday.

The suit was based on Saravanan's comments which appeared on Malaysiakini, Makkal Osai and a Facebook Live session, in which the deputy minister allegedly claimed that Tamil Malar was producing "fake news".

The plaintiff had also sought an injunction to prevent the defendant or his agents from repeating the allegedly defamatory words.

Case management has been fixed for Dec 18.

There was a scuffle in front of Tamil Malar's office on Sept 5 after a group of men gathered to complain about an article, which claimed that Federal Territories MIC headquarters was not paying rent.

An ensuing melee saw three people, including the daily's legal advisor K Saraswathy, attacked. Her phone was also snatched.

Saravanan claimed that he was at the premises to "break up" a fight, but the daily claimed that the fight only started after the deputy minister arrived.

Police are probing the case for rioting.