DMK MLA Arrested for Defamatory Speech Against CM Vijay

Tuticorin: Former DMK Minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan was arrested here on Friday after the Madras High Court rejected her bail plea in connection with her defamatory speech against Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, police said.

While he was visiting Author, about 23 km away from here, he was arrested by the police who escorted him to the waiting police jeep.

Radhakrishnan’s supporters gathered and shouted slogans condemning the police for the action.

While questioning the need for immediate arrest of Radhakrishnan, who was inspecting in his constituency, DMK president MK Stalin alleged that the ruling TVK had not taken any steps to act on the complaint filed by a female victim regarding the alleged gang rape involving the MLA.

Former prime minister asked ‘X’: “Why the urgency? Is this the change that the government wants to achieve, which cannot prevent murders, robberies and sexual crimes against women, and is busy recruiting members from other parties?” he asked.

Stalin wondered how many ministers would be arrested for their speeches if arrests were made in defamation cases.

“The Prime Minister thinks that he can keep his seat by horse-trading and without doing any good to the people who voted for him, and pass the time by arresting opposition party members who criticize him. Arrogance is the path to destruction,” Stalin said.

DMK MP Kanimozhi also condemned the arrest and said on ‘X’ program that the party will not succumb to such “oppressive tactics”.

Radhakrishnan, who represents Tiruchendur Assembly constituency, had directed TVK to file a police complaint for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the Chief Minister on June 20.

Police said cases under section 352 (intentional insult with intent to incite breach of peace) and section 353 (2) (statements causing public mischief) of the BNS have been registered against the legislator.

Rejecting the bail plea, Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan verbally stated that Radhakrishnan, a member of the Legislative Assembly, should not have made such statements.