Chennai, Aug 4 (PTI) Former Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested here on Tuesday and questioned before he was released at Thanjavur on station bail by police in the case of alleged “double-meaning” remark alluding to popular actor Trisha and insulting her modesty.
Following his release, while Udhayanidhi rejected the allegation and said he spoke in a “single-meaning” demanding Cauvery water for the state, Minister Aadhav Arjuna defended the arrest at a party meeting and said such tough action will be taken against anyone making comments against women.
The DMK leader denounced what he called the alleged use of the “cut, copy, paste” method of distortion for his arrest and claimed he was taken like a terrorist by police.
The arrest of the DMK top leader on the eve of the commencement of the Budget session of the Assembly, triggered state widespread protests from party cadres.
Also, it drew sharp criticism from political parties with his father and former Chief Minister M K Stalin hitting out at the TVK regime saying arrogance will lead to destruction.
He slammed the TVK government as being “fascist,” and asked why his son was taken to Thanjavur if questioning was the objective of police.
AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami slammed the government for arresting the Leader of Opposition a day ahead of budget session and also hit out at Udhayanidhi for his alleged crass remark.
Udhayanidhi, as soon as police reached his residence, moved the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail.
However, he was arrested and the police submitted in the court that they had no idea of remanding him and that he would be set free on station bail after questioning.
He was booked by police under various sections of law –including the one related to the use of obscene words and insulting the modesty of a woman– when he addressed a protest meeting at Thanjavur on August 3 on the Cauvery issue.
Udhayanidhi, who was arrested by 11 am at Chennai was released at about 8.10 pm at Sengipatti about 27 km from Thanjavur.
Also the leader of opposition, he was released on station bail after questioning and he walked out of the Sengipatti police station to a warm welcome by party workers who burst fire crackers and garlanded their leader.
A battery of lawyers and top DMK leaders including PK Sekarbabu were with Udhayanidhi.
In the morning, chaotic scenes unfolded as DMK cadres gathered in large numbers outside Udhayanidhi’s Neelankarai residence here to oppose the police action.
Udhayanidhi, who was picked up from his residence in Chennai’s Neelankarai by the Thanjavur police, told reporters gathered there that “the court will decide.” “Did I mention anyone’s name except the CM’s? (at the protest held in Thanjavur). Then why do you think this is happening? Let the court decide,” he said, before being escorted away by the police.
Promoting enmity, provocation with intent to cause a riot, and criminal intimidation were among the nine sections invoked against Udhayanidhi.
Provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act have also been invoked, sources added.
A large number of party workers gathered outside Udhayanidhi’s residence and raised slogans condemning the police action against their leader.
Also, TVK escalated its protest against Udhayanidhi’s alleged offensive remark by filing complaints with the local police and the National Commission for Women.
A police complaint was lodged at the Thanjavur East Police Station by S Bairavi, TVK’s Central District Women’s Wing organiser for Thanjavur.
The complaint alleged that when the crowd chanted “Trisha, Trisha” during the Leader of the Opposition’s speech on the Cauvery issue on August 3, he responded with an obscene, double-meaning remark.
The complainant accused him and DMK IT wing office-bearers of intentionally degrading women, causing “mental agony” to the actor and women in general, and deliberately circulating a 2-minute, 39-second video of the incident on the social media platform X to cause public unrest.
Simultaneously, TVK national spokesperson Pazha Selvakumar lodged a formal complaint with the NCW in New Delhi.
The party urged the Commission to issue a notice seeking an explanation and demand an unconditional public apology from Udhayanidhi.
Reacting strongly to Udhayanidhi’s arrest, DMK cadres staged protests across the state, while political leaders, including DMDK chief Premalatha Vijayakant and AIADMK Deputy General Secretary K P Munusamy, criticised the government’s action.
Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister R Nirmal Kumar questioned Udhayanidhi’s fundamental eligibility to hold public office.
Addressing the media here, Kumar stated that the mindset displayed by the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly is “completely unacceptable” for public office.
DMK President M K Stalin launched a scathing attack on the TVK government, accusing it of “arrogance” and hitting out at the alleged high-handedness in the arrest of Udhayanidhi.
Stalin alleged that police “arrogantly” took custody of Udhayanidhi from his Chennai residence and transported him to Thanjavur “under non-bailable charges to prevent him from attending the upcoming Assembly budget session”.
While the ruling TVK staged protests demanding action against Udhayanidhi, the main opposition DMK held demonstrations condemning his arrest. PTI JR VGN VGN ROH
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