Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 3 : Former Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader Anitha R Radhakrishnan was arrested by police on Friday in connection with a defamation case after the Madras High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition.
Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan rejected the anticipatory bail plea filed by the former minister in a case registered over his alleged defamatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay during a DMK public meeting held at Athoor in Thoothukudi district on June 20.
While dismissing the plea, the court observed that Tamil Nadu has been governed by leaders from the film industry since 1967 and questioned the nature of the speech allegedly made by the former minister.
According to police, Radhakrishnan had visited the Athoor Town Panchayat, which falls under the Tiruchendur Assembly constituency, to inspect development works. During the visit, he inspected the Town Panchayat office and the newly constructed office building.
Soon after completing the inspection, police intercepted Radhakrishnan as he came out of the premises. He was escorted from his vehicle and taken away in a police vehicle before being shifted to the office of the Superintendent of Police for questioning.
The arrest triggered protests by DMK workers present at the spot. Party workers raised slogans against the police and staged a road blockade, leading to tension in the Athoor area. Police personnel were deployed to control the situation and restore normal traffic.
The case against Radhakrishnan was registered on charges of defamation and allegedly inciting conflict over remarks made during the public meeting in Athoor.
Reacting to the arrest, DMK MP Kanimozhi strongly criticised the action of the police and termed it politically motivated.
In a post on X, Kanimozhi said, "The arrest of Thiru. @ARROffice, former Minister and DMK Secretary of Thoothukudi South District, by the police of the tyrannical government is strongly condemnable. The opposition MLA, while engaged in inspection work in his constituency, has been arrested in an utterly anarchic manner by this tyrannical government. The DMK will never bow down to such oppressive tactics."