Last month, the eight accused temple supporters lodged their own complaints against Paiboon and Phra Buddha Isara at police stations across six provinces accusing the two of slandering the Supreme Patriarch and the monastic order.

Paiboon, who headed the |now-defunct National Reform Council’s committee on Buddhism reform, yesterday appeared at the Criminal Court along with a representative of Phra Buddha Isara to file the lawsuit.

“We have to do this because their false complaints have damaged our reputation,” Paiboon said.

The court is set to start hearings in the case on October 17.

Paiboon said all eight defendants were followers of Dhammakaya Temple, which is located in Pathum Thani. When asked about the temple’s scandal-hit abbot Phra Dhammachayo, Paiboon said he hoped the monk would agree to fight his case in court. The abbot is accused of money laundering and accepting ill-gotten gains.

Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Pol Colonel Paisit Wongmuang said his agency had been using both legal and ecclesiastical channels in the case against Phra Dhammachayo.

On Monday, the DSI convened a joint meeting with the Sangha Supreme Council, the National Buddhism Office and the monastic chief of Pathum Thani province to arrange the surrender of Phra Dhammachayo.

Dhammakaya Temple has so far maintained that Phra Dhammachayo is too ill to respond to the DSI summons.

In the wake of the Phra Dhammachayo scandals, his supporters have taken action against his critics. On Monday, Kannikar Yoosri lodged a complaint against prominent preacher Phra Phayom for allegedly damaging Phra Dhammachayo’s good name.

Other Dhammakaya followers have lodged complaints against Somkiat Onwimol, a famous media personality; Dr Mano Laohavanich, a former monk at Dhammakaya Temple; and two others, including a newspaper columnist.