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The Hindu
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Cancel Madurai Adheenam's anticipatory bail: Chennai cyber crime police urge Madras High Court
The cyber crime wing of Greater Chennai City Police has approached the Madras High Court with a plea to cancel the anticipatory bail granted by Chennai Principal District and Sessions Court to Madurai Adheenam Harihara Gnanasambanda Desigar in a case booked against him for allegedly making false statements intended at promoting communal enmity between Hindus and Muslims. The advance bail cancellation plea was listed before Justice M. Nirmal Kumar on Wednesday (July 23, 2025) but could not be taken up for hearing due to paucity of time. In an affidavit filed in support of the plea, Inspector of Police B. Padmakumari said, the pontiff was not cooperating with the investigation and hence the anticipatory bail granted to him, by the sessions court, must be cancelled. The Inspector stated that the pontiff had travelled from Madurai to Chennai by road on May 2 to attend a private event at Kattankulathur. Then, his car had met with a minor accident at Ulundurpet in Kallakurichi district. However, he made public statements and gave an interview to the media insinuating as if an attempt was made to assassinate him and that the assailants were Muslims. In order to prevent communal tensions due to his statements, the police immediately secured CCTV footage from Ulundurpet and it clearly showed that it was a simple car accident caused due to the pontiff's vehicle speeding on the road. Subsequently, the cyber crime wing booked a First Information Report (FIR) against the Adheenam on the basis of a complaint lodged by advocate R. Rajendiran. The FIR was registered under Sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause rioting), 196(1)(a) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 353(2) (making false statements in order to create communal enmity) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on June 24. Subsequently, the police summoned the pontiff for inquiry on June 30. However, he sought 20 days time citing his old age and poor health condition. Thereafter, the police summoned him again on July 5 and this time, he sought permission to appear through video call. But his plea was rejected since the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) does not permit such a facility for police inquiry. On July 17, the sessions court granted advance bail to the Adheenam on being convinced with his counsel Ramaswamy Meyyappan's argument that his client had no intention to instigate communal tensions and that he was merely responding to questions posed by mediapersons. 'The questions were leading and amounted to putting words into the mouth of the petitioner,' the sessions court had observed. Further, taking note that the pontiff was 67 years old and that the BNSS provides for examining individuals aged above 60 years at their place of residence, the sessions court had directed the Chennai cyber crime sleuths to conduct the inquiry at the Adheenam's place of residence. Accordingly, the police had visited the Adheenam's premises at South Avani Moola Street in Madurai on June 20. Claiming that many people gathered at the premises on that day and prevented the police from performing their duty, Ms. Padmakumari said, 'the above circumstances show that the respondent/accused is not willing to cooperate with the investigation and has continuously used one or other evasive tactics. The trial court has not fully appreciated these aspects and erroneously granted anticipatory bail.' The Inspector went on to state: 'Due to these supervening circumstances and the conduct of the respondent/accused, this case deserves immediate cancellation of anticipatory bail as the above facts demonstrate clear abuse of liberty granted to the respondent/accused and poses a serious threat to the administration of justice.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Chennai cyber crime cops quiz Madurai Adheenam
1 2 Madurai: A Chennai cyber crime police team on Sunday conducted inquiry with the 293rd pontiff of Madurai Adheenam, Sri La Sri Harihara Sri Gnana Sambandha Desika Swamigal, at the Adheenam mutt in Madurai in connection with the case against him for his alleged provocative remarks that could incite conflict between religious communities. The Adheenam had claimed a conspiracy to murder him, suggesting links to Pakistan and Muslim men, following a road accident at Ulundurpet in Kallakurichi on May 2. Though his claims were later found to be entirely false after a police investigation into the road accident involving his car, his claims had by then been widely shared on media and social media platforms. On Saturday, the Chennai principal sessions court granted the Adheenam conditional anticipatory ball. On Sunday, a Chennai cyber crime police team came to the mutt near Meenakshi Amman temple and conducted an inquiry with the Adheenam. His advocate told reporters that the Adheenam fully cooperated with the inquiry despite undergoing a surgery recently and suffering from illness. "The police did not permit even a helper inside during the inquiry which lasted around 45 minutes. The Adheenam told us that he answered all the questions of the police," added the advocate. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Meanwhile, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran hit out at the police and state govt for 'going after' elderly spiritual and religious leaders and gurus like the Madurai Adheenam even when they are aged and suffering from illness. Local BJP functionaries gathered near the mutt on Sunday but were not permitted to enter.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Court grants Madurai Adheenam anticipatory bail
Chennai: Noting that the statements made by Madurai Adheenam, regarding an alleged attempt to murder him with the involvement of Pakistan, are prima facie not hate speech, Chennai principal sessions court granted him conditional anticipatory bail on Saturday. "Though the statements made by the Adheenam were exaggerated, they do not prima facie show any intention to spread communal hatred," principal sessions judge S Karthikeyan said. "It is sorry to record that it is the media person who repeatedly raised several questions and obtained certain answers from the Adheenam, which later became controversial," he said. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The court then directed Chennai Crime Branch police to release him on bail in the event of arrest or upon his appearance. Since the Adheenam is above 60 years of age, he shall not be required to attend an inquiry at any place other than where he ordinarily resides, the court added. On May 2, the Adheenam said that while he was travelling by car to attend a Saiva Siddhanta conference, another car collided with his vehicle near Ulundurpet-Salem roundabout and fled the scene. Later at a news conference, he said that there was a conspiracy to murder him, suggesting links to Pakistan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo He further alleged that the individuals in the vehicle that struck his car were wearing caps worn by Muslim men and had beards. These statements went viral on social media. CCTV footage and police investigation, however, revealed that the Adheenam's car was overspeeding, and the other vehicle did stop after the collision. However, aggrieved by his speech, advocate Rajendran from Chennai filed a complaint with cybercrime police, saying that the Adheenam's remarks could incite confusion and conflict between religious communities. Based on the complaint, a case was registered against the Adheenam. Following this, the Adheenam filed an anticipatory bail petition.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Hate speech: Orders reserved on Adheenam's plea
Chennai: Principal sessions court on Wednesday reserved its order on an anticipatory bail application moved by Madurai Adheenam Sri La Sri Harihara Sri Gnanasambanda Desika Swamigal, who apprehended arrest in connection with an FIR registered against him by Chennai police for hate speech. On May 2, while he was travelling by car to attend a Saiva Siddhanta conference, another car reportedly collided with his vehicle near the Ulundurpet–Salem roundabout and fled the scene without stopping. At the conference, he claimed there was a conspiracy to murder him, suggesting possible links to Pakistan. He further alleged that the individuals in the vehicle that struck his car were wearing round caps worn by Muslim men and had beards. These statements went viral on social media. Aggrieved by his speech, advocate Rajendran from Chennai filed a complaint with the cybercrime police, stating that the Adheenam's remarks could incite confusion and conflict between two religious communities. Based on the complaint, a case was registered against the Adheenam. Following this, he filed an anticipatory bail petition before the Chennai principal sessions court. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cách giao dịch ETH/USD mà không cần nắm giữ Ether IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai When the petition came up for hearing before judge Karthikeyan, the petitioner's counsel argued that the complaint was motivated by malice and requested the court to grant anticipatory bail. Opposing the plea, the prosecution submitted that the Adheenam misused the right to freedom of speech and that his anticipatory bail request should be dismissed. Recording the submissions, the court reserved its order.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Forum protests demanding action against Madurai Adheenam
Protesters gathered near Jhansi Rani Park here on Monday to protest against Madurai Adheenam for purportedly spewing comments spreading religious hatred were arrested by police and later released. The protesters under the banner 'Madurai Madha Nallinakka Makkal Kootamaipu,' (Madurai Religious Harmony People's Federation) raised slogans against Adheenam for acting against his post. Advocate K. Vanchinathan, one of the protesters, said that following the car accident, Madurai Adheenam by concealing the fact tried to pose a different narrative with a motive antithetical to his position as a mutt head who has been appointed to propagate Saivam and Tamil language. While the previous Adheenam's work as a mutt head was exemplary in bringing about an equal society by clearing off the differences among the public, the present Adheenam's activity was reflecting that of the Hindutva ideologies, he stated. Despite several complaints and petitions to act against the Adheenam, the police and the State government had not initiated any fruitful action against him, he added. A person who had tried to create a distortion in society by bringing in a religious angle in a plain accident case should have immediately been booked under the National Security Act, Mr. Vanchinathan said. Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department should immediately remove him from the prestigious position which had been held by progressive and broad-minded persons, he noted.
