Latest news with #Ponmudy
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Madras HC slams TN cops for closing 124 complaints against former minister Ponmudy
CHENNAI: Coming down heavily on the Tamil Nadu police for closing all the 124 complaints, at the preliminary stage itself, filed against former minister and senior DMK leader K Ponmudy for his alleged hate speech against women and Saivite and Vaishnavite denominations, the Madras High Court on Tuesday said the court cannot remain a mute spectator if politicians cross the limits. Hearing a suo motu case initiated against Ponmudy, Justice P Velmurugan said the contempt case would be kept open and he would 'vigilantly watch' what the police was going to do on the matter. 'Where do you derive the powers to close these complaints after preliminary inquiry? If you think you have the right to close the complaints, the court has the rights to proceed on them,' the judge said, responding to Advocate General PS Raman's submission that the complaints were closed after preliminary investigation under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The AG also said BNSS allows the complainants to make appeals with the Inspector General (IG) concerned and the DGP. The investigating officers have found that the former minister had only spoken what was said 60 years ago and such speech would not fall under hate speech, the AG said.
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ponmudy case: Politicians in power should not consider themselves kings and queens, says Madras High Court
Politicians in power should not consider themselves kings and queens and expect sovereign immunity under the legal maxim rex no potest peccare (the king can do no wrong), said Justice P. Velmurugan of the Madras High Court on Tuesday (July 8, 2025). He made the observation when Advocate General (A-G) P.S. Raman said, the Tamil Nadu police had closed all 124 complaints received against former Minister K. Ponmudy for his derogatory speech against Saivites, Vaishnavites, and women in general. Perplexed as to how such speeches could be made, Justice Velmurugan said, Justice N. Anand Venkatesh had rightly taken suo motu cognisance of the speech because, of late, politicians appeared to be crossing limits while delivering public speeches. 'They (politicians) must understand that we are living in a democratic country... Just because they get a mic, they cannot think that they can speak anything and everything... They must give respect to other persons. They are also one among the citizens,' the judge told the A-G. When the A-G pointed out that the former Minister had only recollected something that had been said in the past regarding an encounter with a sex worker, the judge asked whether it would not make it an offence to recollect such derogatory remarks in a public forum. On the A-G's submission that the complainants were not remediless and that they could always approach the higher officials in the Police department against closure of their complaints, the judge decided to keep the suo motu case pending and monitor the action of the higher-ups. Making it clear that all 124 complainants must be served with the closure reports by the jurisdictional police officers concerned, the judge decided to see how many of them would approach higher officers against the closure of their complaints and what action the officials would take. He directed the High Court Registry to list the suo motu petition for further hearing on August 1, 2025. What is the case about? Mr. Ponmudy was serving as Forest Minister when the speech was delivered at a meeting organised by Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) in Chennai on April 8, 2025. It came under severe criticism, with DMK Deputy General Secretary Kanimozhi herself condemning the speech. DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin initially relieved Mr. Ponmudy from the party post and then dropped him from the Cabinet on April 27, 2025. Justice Venkatesh had taken suo motu cognisance of the speech around the same time since he was then hearing another suo motu petition taken up against Mr. Ponmudy in connection with a disproportionate assets case. Subsequently, the matter got listed before Justice Velmurugan as he is holding the MP/MLA portfolio at present.
New Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Ponmudy case: Madras HC notice to DGP, Chennai commissioner
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday issued notices to the Director General of Police/Head of Police Force of Tamil Nadu and the Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police on a suo motu writ petition taken up by the court for registering a criminal case against DMK MLA and former minister K Ponmudy for his derogatory remarks against Saivism and Vaishnavism. The order to take up a suo motu case was passed by Justice N Anand Venkatesh in April, following which it was numbered with the concurrence of the Chief Justice and came up for hearing before Justice P Velmurugan on Friday. The controversial remark was made by Ponmudy at an event organised by Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam in Chennai on April 8 in which he recalled a 'joke' frequently used in the past on the platforms of the Dravidian movement, with references to symbols used in Saivism, Vaishnavism and sex workers. After the issue snowballed into a controversy, Ponmudy was first stripped of his party post as deputy general secretary and later his cabinet berth. Justice Anand Venkatesh had earlier asked the Tamil Nadu police to register an FIR against Ponmudy for his remarks. However, on learning that no FIR has been registered when the case came up again for hearing on April 23, he directed the court's registry to take up a suo motu writ petition in this regard.
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Derogatory speech by Ponmudy: Madras High Court orders notices to DGP, Chennai Commissioner of Police
The Madras High Court on Friday (June 13, 2025) ordered notices, returnable by June 25, to the Director General of Police/Head of Police Force as well as Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police on a suo motu writ petition taken up by the court for registration of a criminal case against former Minister K. Ponmudy of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for his derogatory speech against Saivites, Vaishnavites and women in general. Justice P. Velmurugan also directed the High Court Registry to furnish to the two officers, the copies of an order passed by Justice N. Anand Venkatesh on April 23, 2025 for taking up the suo motu case. Pursuant to the order, the writ was numbered with the concurrence of Chief Justice K.R. Shriram and listed for hearing before Justice Velmurugan since he holds the MP/MLA portfolio at present. Tamil Nadu Ministers Senthilbalaji, Ponmudy quit after strong court remarks Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had dropped Mr. Ponmudy from the Cabinet on April 27, 2025 pursuant to the speech delivered at a meeting organised by Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) in Chennai on April 8, 2025. Justice Venkatesh had taken serious note of the issue on April 23, 2025 after video clips of the speech went viral on the social media and wondered how the police had not booked a case for hate speech. In his April 23, 2025 order, the judge wrote: 'These comments, on the face of it, are completely derogatory of women and deliberately spew venom and hatred on the two main sects of Hinduism viz., Saivism and Vaishnavism.' The judge went on to state: 'As is perhaps known, Saivites venerate Lord Shiva as the supreme being whose focus is on achieving liberation (Moksha) from the cycle of suffering. Vaishnavites, on the other hand, are worshippers of Lord Vishnu in his various avatars, and consider him as the supreme being among all Hindu deities. Saivism and Vaishnavism hold a deep religious significance in the State of Tamil Nadu.' 'To many, the religious practices of these two sects form a part of their creed,' the judge said and observed that the Minister, in his speech, ought not to have likened the Tiruman (three vertical lines sported by Vaishnavites on their forehead) and Tripundra (the three horizontal lines sported by the Saivites on their forehead) with the suggestive sexual postures by a sex worker. 'In Saivism, the horizontal lines on the forehead is a sacred religious symbol depicting Lord Shiva's three aspects: creation, preservation and destruction. In Vaishnavism, the three lines are a symbol of a Vaishnavite's devotion and commitment to the path of righteousness (dharma) and spiritual enlightenment... The available clip played in the court shows the Minister has likened these sacred religious symbols with sexual positions,' the order read. Justice Venkatesh also said: 'Prime facie, it is evident that the video demeaned the moral worth of sex workers, particularly women and was calculated to subvert the harmony and peace of religious groups and various sects. Apart from being obscene, the speech also undoubtedly wounds the religious feelings of Vaishnavites and Saivites and is aimed at insulting the Hindu religion and religious feelings of these religious groups.' Further, observing that the Minister had prima facie appeared to have delivered a hate speech, the judge said, it would attract Sections 79, 196(1)(b), 296(a), 299 and 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) of 2023. He also highlighted the Supreme Court to have come down heavily upon those who deliver hate speeches and said, the top court had also directed the police to act against such individuals. by registering criminal cases. 'The Minister had admitted to making these derogatory comments and had, in fact, been removed from the post of Deputy General Secretary of DMK. Still, the police machinery which is tasked with the job of tackling hate speech lay motionless... The continued inaction and hesitation of the police in registering an FIR for hate speech against a Minister is most distressing and unfortunate,' the order read. Justice Venkatesh had passed the order before Mr. Ponmudy resigned from the Cabinet on April 27, 2025. Then, he had also directed the Registry to register a suo motu writ petition and place it before the Chief Justice for appropriate directions on the administrative side. Since the High Court was on summer vacation for the entire month of May, the petition was listed for admission on Friday (June 13, 2025).
New Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Lights, camera, action
It's that season again when a collector steps in, camera crew in tow, not to fix anything but to yell at people for a taste of power. This episode stars the Tiruvallur collector, who turned a school inspection into a full-blown reality show, schooling teachers like they were students. Of course, it was all captured on camera. After all, what's governance without a little public shaming? The real show-stopper? In this season of yell before verifying, the collector, misled by the BDO, lashed out at an Irular headman in Vempedu village, humiliating the community. His mortal sin? Building a house with the help of the NGO. Turns out, the word, sorry was omitted from the 'misuse of power' dictionary. Meanwhile, on Instagram, the collector is seen praising an artist accused of harassment, right before delivering sermons to school teachers on discipline. Maybe the allegation escaped his notice; he was probably too busy rehearsing his next on-camera outburst to perfection. -Rajalakshmi Sampath Icarus of DMK Once the DMK's poster boy, senior leader K Ponmudy has been conspicuously cropped out of the party banners during the two-day DMK central district executive meet at Kalaignar Arivalayam. Instead, M R K Panneerselvam wielded a wide grin on every banner. Ponmudy's home turf and stronghold in Villuppuram has slipped right out of his fingers. The red carpet has been rolled out to Panneerselvam, with the crown of zonal-in-charge falling right onto his head recently. Since Ponmudy's fall from grace over his controversial remarks on religion and women, the omission seems no accident. Party insiders say Chief Minister M K Stalin's cold shoulder has gone public, and Ponmudy's supporters are feeling the chill. -Krithika Srinivasan Zero compassion clause Evictions are usually carried out with some unspoken rules to soften the blow, especially to children. Their belongings are all packed away beforehand, and officials ensure that no children witness their houses fall. However, at Anakaputhur, the evictions wreaked havoc on the financial and mental stability of the families. Under the orders of the high court, houses were bulldozed like a pack of cards. Children, who did not have time to pick up their toys or books, watched on as their houses turned to dust. Residents are furious, their life savings have been demolished, they are being packed away to apartments in Kancheepuram and are clueless as to how to restart their lives. Some of them vowed never to vote for the DMK again. The irony? One of the evicted settlements here is, or rather was, called 'Stalin Nagar'. -Nirupama Viswanathan
