CHENNAI: Chennai-based publisher, Badri Seshadri (58) was arrested by the Perambalur district police early Saturday morning for his alleged defamatory remarks at the judiciary in an interview to a YouTube channel while discussing the situation in Manipur.

Police sources said that he was picked up from his home on Warren road, Mylapore by a special team of Perambalur district police around 5 am.

Kunnam Police have booked him under IPC sections 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot), 153 A (1) (a) (promote enmity between groups through words), 505 (1) (b) (causing fear and alarm in public) based on a complaint by Kaviarasu, an advocate from Kunnam. The complainant claimed that he was dismayed by Badri's statement criticising the Chief Justice of India and the judiciary in his interview.

Badri Seshadri is the founder of Kizhakku pathippagam, one of the leading publishing houses in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai tweeted in support of the arrested publisher and condemned the state government for 'crushing the voice of the common man'. The arrest was also condemned in social media by several renowned personalities too.

Badri was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody.