No plans to seek Udhayanidhi’s remand, says TN govt; Madras HC directs police to release him on bail after questioning

CHENNAI: After the State government submitted that it had no intention of seeking Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin’s judicial remand over his objectionable comment against actor Trisha while attacking Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Thanjavur police to release him today (August 4) itself on station bail after questioning.

Appearing for the Thanjavur police, Advocate General Vijay Narayan informed Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan that Udhayanidhi had been arrested and taken to Thanjavur, but that the police did not intend to remand him in judicial custody. The police only intended to question him and release him on station bail.

The Advocate General added that the State’s only intention was to protect the interests of women.

The court observed that since the petition was one for anticipatory bail, it would not be maintainable after the arrest. However, the court added, it could grant bail considering the materials placed before it.

Recording Advocate General Narayan’s submissions, the court directed the police to question Udhayanidhi and release him on station bail on the same day.

The FIR stems from an objectionable speech delivered by the Leader of the Opposition at a public meeting that the DMK conducted in Thanjavur on August 3 in connection with the Cauvery water-sharing dispute. During his speech, Udhayanidhi picked cue from a comment from one among the audience and made a comment loaded with double entendre against actor Trisha Krishnan and Chief Minister Vijay.

Following this, S Bairavi, the TVK's Central District Women's Wing Organiser for Thanjavur, filed a complaint at the Thanjavur East Police Station. Based on this, the police registered a case against Udhayanidhi under Sections 196, 192, 352, 79, 296(b), 61 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, and arrested him.

Meanwhile, Udhayanidhi filed an anticipatory bail petition before the High Court, claiming that his speech was a political one on the Cauvery water issue, protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, and that his remark referred only to the water dispute with Karnataka. He denied making any derogatory or indecent remarks against Trisha or Vijay, or using any word or gesture intended to insult the modesty of a woman. Udhayanidhi alleges that his speech was taken out of context for political purposes.

He further contended that the case was politically motivated and intended to silence him as the Leader of the Opposition ahead of the Budget Session that is set to commence on August 5 (Wednesday). He sought anticipatory bail in connection with the case under investigation by the police.