Ranjith case: Thanjai police told to file counter

When the plea came up for hearing before Justice V Bharathidasan, the petitioner said that his speech in the meeting was only meant to create awareness about possession of lands, citing references to books by various authors. He also said that freedom of speech is his constitutional right and the Thiruppanandal police decided to file a case against him without conducting preliminary inquiry into the matter.

Stating that the speech did not intend to divide the community, the petitioner sought the bench to stop the police from taking any action and quash the FIR.

After hearing his arguments, the Justice said that though he has right to speak at public place, there is a limit to freedom of speech. Further, he asked petitioner whether the latter had any evidence that the Chola emperor usurped lands from possession of caste Dalits and what was the basis of such a speech. The case was adjourned to July 8.

The director criticized the Chola king at a public meeting at Thiruppanandal in Thanjavur on June 5. The Tiruppanandal police booked a case against him under Sections 153 and 153 (A) (1) (a) of the IPC based on a complaint lodged by Hindu Makkal Katchi leader Bala. The director said that Dalits turned landless people in the delta region during the emperor’s reign and it was not a ‘golden period’ as cited in history. He also said it was a ‘dark period’ Dalit people.