Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition and DMK youth wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin was on Tuesday arrested by police

Xtreme News India   04-08-2026 18:05:54   76825954

Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition and DMK youth wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin was on Tuesday arrested by police

Thanjavur (Warta) - Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition and DMK youth wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin was on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) arrested by police following a complaint registered by a ruling TVK functionary accusing him of making misogynist remarks at a public meeting in Thanjavur a day earlier. Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan dismisses anticipatory bail plea after recording the submission by the A-G that Thanjavur police do not intend to remand Mr. Udhayanidhi in judicial custody and that he would be let out on station bail after questioning.

Thanjavur East Police filed a case against the DMK leader under seven sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita including promoting enmity between groups based on religion, race, language, caste, or community (Sec 196); wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot (192); intentional insults aimed at provoking a person to disturb public peace (352); word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman (79); uttering obscene songs, ballads, or words in or near any public place [296(b)]; criminal conspiracy (61); and criminal intimidation [351(2)]. Besides he was booked under Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Harassment of Women Act and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act. Earlier, when the police arrived at Mr. Udhayanidhi’s residence, his wife Kiruthiga and former Minister Ma Subramanian were engaged in an argument with a senior police officer. Mr. Subramanian was heard saying the DMK leader must be given time to refresh himself before he was taken to Thanjavur.

Several senior leaders including party general Duraimurugan, former Ministers K.N. Nehru and P.K. Sekarbabu and Mr. Udhayanidhi’s brother-in-law Sabarisan along with party lawyers also arrived at his house to lend solidarity. They were heard telling the police since the Madras High Court had agreed to urgently hear Mr. Udhayanidhi’s anticipatory bail petition and the judge had orally directed the police not to take coercive action, they must abide by it. However, a senior police officer told them he had not received any such instructions from the government counsel. Subsequently, Mr Udhayanidhi was taken to a police van waiting outside the house. The DMK men who gathered in large numbers outside the premises of Mr. Udhayanidhi’s house opposed the arrest and attempted to stop the police from taking him away. The DMK cadres also squatted on the road blocking the police vehicle. Thereafter, the police cleared the road using mild force and proceeded on ECR towards Thanjavur. 

Addressing a public meeting, Mr. Udhayanidhi’s double entendre remarks were made in response to the crowd mentioning an actor’s name in response to a comment on what was important to Chief Minister Joseph Vijay. Addressing a protest gathering at Thanjavur on the Cauvery dispute, the LoP took a swipe at the Chief Minister, charging that while Tamil Nadu had not got a drop of water, Mr. Vijay remained unconcerned. Addressing a public meeting, Udhayanidhi Stalin’s double entendre remarks were made in response to the crowd mentioning an actor’s name in response to a comment on what was important to Chief Minister Joseph Vijay. Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Udhayanidhi Stalin, along with leaders of the party’s alliance partners, stage a protest against the Mekedatu Dam construction project, in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.