NEW DELHI: Former Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister and leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin has been booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Information Technology Act and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act over his alleged “double-meaning” remarks linked to actor Trisha at a public meeting in Thanjavur.The case was registered after the women’s wing of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) filed a complaint at the Thanjavur East Police Station, alleging that Udhayanidhi made derogatory comments that insulted the modesty of the actor and demeaned women.
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Police detained Udhayanidhi from his Chennai residence on Tuesday morning before taking him to Thanjavur. Reacting to the action, the DMK leader dismissed it as a “comedy” and denied making any offensive remarks.“They have propagated fake news by using ‘cut, copy, paste’ to claim I said something I never said. I am not the kind of person to be intimidated by all this. I will face it legally,” he told reporters following his detention.The controversy stems from a speech on the Cauvery water dispute in Thanjavur on Monday. During the address, sections of the crowd repeatedly chanted “Trisha, Trisha”. According to the complaint, police have booked Udhayanidhi under the following provisions, as reported by ANI:
- Section 196, BNS – Promoting enmity between groups.
- Section 192, BNS – Provoking a riot.
- Section 352, BNS – Intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace.
- Section 79, BNS – Insulting the modesty of a woman.
- Section 296(b), BNS – Using obscene words in a public place.
- Section 61, BNS – Criminal conspiracy.
- Section 351(2), BNS – Criminal intimidation.
- Section 4, Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women (Amendment) Act, 2002 – Harassment of women.
- Section 67, Information Technology Act – Publishing or transmitting allegedly objectionable material electronically.
The detention triggered protests by DMK workers across Tamil Nadu, with reports of road blockades in several districts. DMK president MK Stalin convened an emergency meeting of party leaders ahead of the Assembly session, while party sources said the Madras High Court had been approached for anticipatory bail.Meanwhile, TVK has also escalated the matter by filing a complaint with the National Commission for Women, seeking action against Udhayanidhi and demanding an unconditional public apology.
