The Madras High Court on Tuesday asked the Tamil Nadu Police to release Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, reported Live Law.

Stalin was arrested earlier in the day for his purportedly derogatory remarks about Chief Minister Vijay and actor Trisha Krishnan. The leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly had made the alleged remarks at a protest rally in Thanjavur on Monday.

The first information report against him was filed by a functionary of actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. The complaint alleged that Stalin had made indecent remarks in the nature of a double entendre.

Stalin had moved the High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the case. The court agreed to hear the matter urgently on Tuesday.

During the hearing, the Tamil Nadu government told Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan that the state does not intend to keep him in custody, reported Bar and Bench. The government’s counsel said that Stalin would be questioned and released on bail.

Taking this into account, the court directed the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader to cooperate with the investigation.

The FIR against Stalin was filed under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to promoting enmity between groups, provocation with the intent to cause a riot, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, words intended to insult the modesty of a woman, uttering obscene words in or near public places, criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation.

The former deputy chief minister was also booked under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and the Information Technology Act.

Stalin’s alleged remarks

The alleged remarks were made at protest on Monday about the Cauvery water dispute.

“Not even a drop of Cauvery water has been received,” Stalin said in a video widely shared on social media. “But has the chief minister opened his mouth about it? No. He is only concerned with filing false cases against the DMK.”

As he criticised Vijay, Stalin’s speech was interrupted by supporters shouting “Trisha, Trisha”. Krishnan is Vijay’s former co-star.

As the supporters continued shouting the slogans, Stalin allegedly made a remark that was seen by many social media users as an innuendo about Krishnan.

The TVK and the Bharatiya Janata Party described the remarks it as obscene. Stalin was also criticised by social media users. The TVK, apart from filing a complaint with the police, also approached the National Commission for Women.

However, the DMK denied the allegations, saying that no reference was made to Krishnan.

As he was being taken away by the police, Stalin told India Today: “You decide, you heard the speech. Did I say something wrong? Did I take anybody’s name except the chief minister?”

Edited by Sara Varghese.

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