Chennai, September 16: Tamil Nadu Police have registered cases against three DMK leaders, including former Union minister A Raja and former state minister P K Sekar Babu, over alleged derogatory remarks against Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and cabinet colleague CTR Nirmal Kumar.
The cases relate to remarks allegedly made during a DMK statewide protest on September 12. A similar case was also registered against DMK MLA Vasantham Karthikeyan in Kallakurichi over comments directed at the chief minister.
According to police, the case against A Raja includes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to alleged defamatory remarks intended to disturb public peace, promoting violence between groups, obscene language and disruption of public order. Police said the remarks were made during the protest and later circulated widely on social media.
An FIR against P K Sekar Babu was registered by North Chennai police under several BNS sections. These include provisions concerning obscene words in public, intentional insult, promoting enmity, spreading false information through electronic communication, threats and speech allegedly capable of disturbing public peace.
The remarks triggered reactions across the political spectrum. DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi was among those who publicly reacted to the comments, according to the report.
Speaking to reporters about the case, A Raja said that if a lawsuit had been filed, he would face it.
DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan defended the party's right to criticise the ruling government. He alleged that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government was targeting DMK leaders instead of addressing issues raised by the opposition.
Elangovan also referred to allegations raised by Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin in the state Assembly, including claims concerning crimes, custodial deaths and attacks on women. He said the government had not adequately responded to those issues.
The DMK spokesperson further alleged that ministers had focused on attacking the opposition during the Assembly session rather than defending the government's actions. These are political claims made by the DMK and have not been independently established in the report.
The police cases come amid heightened political tensions in Tamil Nadu between the ruling TVK and the opposition DMK. The investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding the remarks and whether the allegations made in the FIRs are supported by evidence.
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