States » SouthPosted at: Nov 4 2026 6:33PM


Plea against ex-DMK Minister Ponmudy for derogatory remarks against women, dismissed as withdrawn

Chennai, Nov 4 (UNI) A plea filed by a Woman BJP Councillor of the Chennai Corporation demanding action against veteran DMK leader and former Minister K.Ponmudy for his hate speech and derogatory remarks against women in 2025, was on Wednesday evening dismissed as withdrawn.
During the hearing before the George Town Court Magistrate C.Sundarapandian, the petitioner, Uma Anandan sought to withdraw the plea citing the former Minister's age and health conditions. She also said Ponmudy has also tendered an apology for his remarks. Accepting it, the Magistrate allowed her to withdraw the petition and dismissed the case as withdrawn.
It may be recalled that a day after issuing the NBW against him, the George Town Metropolitan Magistrate Court had on August 7 withdrew it after Ponmudy appeared before the Court in connection with a derogatory and hate speech case linked to alleged controversial remarks on Saivism, Vaishnavism, and women aimed at hurting religious sentiments and promoting hatred. The Court
had issued the NBW as he failed to appear during the trial. Ponmudy, a DMK strongman in Villupuram district, accompanied by his advocates, presented himself before the court.
After recording his appearance and allowing the plea seeking to recall the NBW, the Magistrate recalled the warrant against the former DMK Minister.
In April 2025, then Tamil Nadu Minister Ponmudy delivered a controversial remarks in Chennai on Saivism, Vaishnavism, and also for remarks denigrating women. The remarks made in a indoor meeting sparked massive public outrage, leading to his removal from the DMK party post and his eventual dropping from the state Cabinet.
The case stems from a speech delivered by Ponmudy at a private event held in Chennai in April 2025, where he reportedly made remarks that were considered offensive and capable of hurting religious sentiments.
Following the speech, Uma Anandhan filed a private complaint before the George Town Magistrate Court, alleging that Ponmudy had indulged in hate speech and insulted women and sought action under She sought action under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) provisions for promoting religious enmity and hurting religious sentiments. The George Town court had taken cognisance of the complaint and initiated proceedings.
The Madras High Court had also initiated suo motu proceedings against him soon after the incident in April 2025. However, on September 16, 2025, the High Court, had closed the suo motu writ petition taken up by it on the ground that the police had already received more than 100 complaints against him but closed all of them after not finding a prima facie case to register a First Information Report (FIR).
While closing the suo motu plea, Justice N. Sathish Kumar granted liberty to the complainants to approach the jurisdictional magistrates challenging the closure reports served on them by the police. He also said, the former Minister ought not to have made such speeches even though he claimed to have only recalled what was already said by someone else in the 1970s. It does not behove well for people holding high positions to make such speeches, the judge added.
As the GT court has been conducting the trial in the case Ponmudy failed to appear and filed pleas seeking to dispense with it.
In the meantime, the former Minister moved the High Court seeking to quash the private complaints and hate speech charges against him. However, the Court dismissed his plea on July 2, and allowed the trial to proceed.
It was in this scenario, the petitioner withdrew her case in the GT court today.
UNI GV 1830
Tags: #Plea against ex-DMK Minister Ponmudy for derogatory remarks against women# dismissed as withdrawn
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