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States » SouthPosted at: Apr 17 2025 10:45PM


Madras HC orders police to book cases against TN Min for derogatory remarks against Women, Hindu religion

Chennai, Apr 17 (UNI) Taking a serious view and warning that it would initiate suo motu
proceedings, the Madras High Court on Thursday evening directed the Tamil Nadu police
to register cases against senior DMK leader and Forest and Khadi Minister Minister
K Ponmudy for his derogatory and uncivilised remarks on commercial sex workers with
Hindu religion.
In a swift action after facing several backlash both from within and the Opposition parties,
the ruling DMK had removed him from the post of Deputy General Secretary, even as the
demands for his resignation or ouster from the State Cabinet has been growing, though
he had tendered an apology.
On a petition filed seeking action against the Minister, Mr Justice Anand Venkatesh directed
the Tamil Nadu police to register an FIR against Mr Ponmudy by April 23, failing which the
Court itself would initiate suo motu proceedings if the direction was not complied with.
“I will initiate suo-motu action, if they don’t,” he said, earlier in the day directing the AG to get
instructions by evening from the DGP as to what criminal action has been taken against Ponmudy
for the hate speech following which the Court directed the police to book the Minister.
Stating that he need answers as the issue could not be brushed aside by a mere apology tendered
by Ponmudy for his remarks made consciously and not in a spur of the moment, the Judge told AG
not to file multiple FIRs for the same offence and said just one FIR will do on the complaint received
so far.
“The material is already available. I need to get an answer on what action has been taken on the
complaint. The damaging content is still there", the Judge said, taking a very serious view on the
remarks made by the Minister at a public event on April six, on commercial sex workers and
likening the religious symbols of Saivism and Vaishnavism to sexual positions.
"It will get a different colour when I step into it and I don’t want that to happen,” the Judge said,
adding that a message should be sent as a deterrent. People holding high positions should not
indulge in such things and it should not be seen as a licence for someone belonging to a
particular party.
Noting that the law is the equal and same for all, the Judge said “When the government takes
serious action against others for making hate speech, the same should be done when a person
who is part of the government makes it. We have all heard what he had said.”
UNI GV 2240
Tags: #Madras HC orders police to book cases against TN Min for derogatory remarks against Women# Hindu religion
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