Chennai: Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested Tuesday morning in Thanjavur after an FIR was registered against him over alleged derogatory remarks made during a farmers protest in Thanjavur on Monday.
Additional Commissioner of Police Narendran Nair confirmed that an FIR was filed against Udhayanidhi, a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) legislator, over his alleged derogatory remarks purportedly made against actor Trisha.
The ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) had also filed a complaint with the National Commission for Women (NCW) against him.
“I see the arrest action against me as a joke and I will deal with this through the legal route,” Udhayanidhi told the media, as he was taken in the police van.
#WATCH | DMK leader and LoP Udhayanidhi Stalin detained by Police from his Chennai residence, following an FIR against him over his alleged defamatory remarks against CM Vijay. Slogans directed at actor Trisha were raised at his rally yesterday. pic.twitter.com/wTM6rABo85
— ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2026
Earlier, a plea was submitted before the Madras High Court seeking to restrain the police from arresting Udhayanidhi. Senior advocate Hasan Mohamed Jinnah submitted that there was an attempt to arrest Udhayanidhi to prevent him from attending the Legislative Assembly.
The High Court agreed to hear an urgent anticipatory bail petition to be moved by the LoP.
Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan listed the LoP’s anticipatory bail plea for hearing in the afternoon, after being told Thanjavur police had filed a case. The judge also orally asked government counsel to direct police not to take any coercive steps against the LoP until the bail petition is heard. However, the arrest was made around 11 am.
During the protest organised to raise the farming community’s concerns over the Cauvery water issue, Udhayanidhi criticised the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, alleging that no water had been released and that the CM was silent on the matter while focusing on filing cases against the DMK.
The demonstration demanded action to stop Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, full waiver of farmers’ loans, and declaration of the Cauvery delta districts as drought-affected.
He highlighted the lack of water release from the Cauvery. “Water should have come. But today, not even a single drop of water has come.”
“But is the Chief Minister opening his mouth to speak about this? No, he isn’t. His only concern is, what false allegations can be made against the DMK? What fake cases can be filed?” he said.
During the speech, a section of the crowd began chanting “Trisha! Trisha!” (a reference to actor Trisha Krishnan). It was at that moment he made the alleged remark before clarifying that he was referring to Cauvery.
The comments drew sharp criticism, with leaders from TVK and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) calling it “disgusting, obscene, vulgar and shameful”, demanding his arrest.
TVK functionaries lodged a police complaint at the Thanjavur East police station and approached the NCW seeking action, an explanation, and an apology.
Security was bolstered outside Udhayanidhi’s residence on Monday morning before his arrest. DMK workers were detained for attempting to breach cordons.
Police registered the case and took him into custody amid the escalating political confrontation between the DMK and the ruling TVK.
DMK MP T.R.Baalu rejected the allegations against Udhayanidhi, saying that he had not referred to any individual. “He has not mentioned any word about the particular woman. It is all false,” Baalu told reporters.
(Edited by Tony Rai)