States » SouthPosted at: Oct 29 2026 3:15PM


Economist Kalaiarasan detained by cops, Stalin, Thiruma cries foul

Chennai, Oct 28 (UNI) Prominent economist and Assistant Professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) A.Kalaiyarasan was on Thursday detained by the police, triggering strong condemnation from the Opposition DMK and also from the VCK, which is part of the TVK government headed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay.
In a prew-dawn swoop, policemen in plainclothes detained him from his Adyar residence in connection with an alleged abusive post on Instagram against a ruling TVK Pallavaram MLA J.Kamatchi.
Reports said he was detained illegally without showing any complaint or FIR and being taken to Shankar Nagar police at suburban Pammal despite his clarification that he had no such social media account. However, on the way the car, in which he was being whisked away, was stopped and after receiving instructions he was dropped back at his residence.
As the news of his 'arrest' spread drawing condemnations from Opposition DMK President M.K.Stalin and VCK Founder and Lok Sabha MP Thol.Thirumavalavan, the Chennai City police clarified the Kalaiyarasan was not arrested and that he was only detained for questioning.
The economist, who had authored the book 'The Dravidian Model", was however, let off later after ascertaining that he has nothing to do with the social media post.
Alleging humiliation at the hands of poice, he lodged a complaint with the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal demand action against the erring cops.
Meanwhile, condemning the 'arrest', Stalin accused the TVK-led government of intimidating academics and suppressing criticism. He said the professor's fundamental rights had been violated and his mobile phone seized.
Stalin highlighted Kalaiyarasan's academic credentials, noting that he holds a doctorate in economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University and is among the authors of The Dravidian Model, published by Cambridge University Press. He also said the professor had served on the union government's Planning Commission and contributed to the preparation of Tamil Nadu's economic survey. Kalaiyarasan is also a member of the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Governance Committee, Stalin said.
Questioning the reason for the arrest, the DMK leader asked whether it was linked to the professor's research on Tamil Nadu's development under the Dravidian model or his reported criticism of rising prices under the TVK government.
Termed the alleged action as authoritarian, Stalin demanded that the Tamil Nadu police and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay publicly apologise to Kalaiyarasan for the reported arrest and alleged humiliation.
Condemning the arrest, Thol Thirumavalavan said the police action as unacceptable. Speaking to reporters here, he said Kalaiyarasan was a prominent economist who had expressed his views on the Tamil Nadu government's white paper through a detailed article. The police reportedly arrested him over alleged defamatory remarks on Instagram, but later said the account involved was a fake ID and he was released.
The police indulging in such actions is unacceptable and condemnable," Thirumavalavan said.
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Tags: #Economist Kalaiarasan detained by cops# Stalin# Thiruma cries foul
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