Latest news with #Velmurugan
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC: Where did cops get power to close 121 plaints against Ponmudy?
Chennai: From where did the Tamil Nadu police draw power to close all 112 complaints against former DMK minister K Ponmudy for his alleged derogatory statements against women, Shaivites, and Vaishnavites, asked Madras high court on Tuesday. In response, advocate general P S Raman submitted that all the cases were closed after following due process by conducting a preliminary inquiry under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). It was concluded that the speech did not amount to hate speech; therefore, the complaints were closed, the AG added. The remedy available to the complainants does not end here. Under BNSS, they have an option to appeal to the inspector general and the DGP if they are not satisfied with the findings of the investigating officer, AG said. In response to the AG's claim that the former minister was just quoting an incident that occurred 60 years ago, Justice P Velmurugan said, "Can you (TN police) say that only the original speaker can be punished and not the subsequent speaker who made the same speech?" You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "They (politicians) cannot act like kings; the court cannot tolerate such behaviour. They must respect the public who are the victims," the judge said. "Let them (complainants) exhaust their remedies; meanwhile, we (court) will keep the contempt petition pending. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One plan. Total peace of mind. ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo We will watch vigilantly," Justice Velmurugan said. People in public life must understand that this country is for all and not for a particular class of citizens, he added. Asserting that he will keep the suo motu contempt open, Justice Velmurugan directed the state police to ensure that all the complainants are served with the closure notice. "If anyone comes to the court alleging that they have not been served with the closure notice, the court will be constrained to take serious action," the judge said and adjourned the hearing to Aug 1.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Madras high court questions TN police's closure of 121 complaints against former minister Ponmudy
CHENNAI: The on Tuesday questioned from where the Tamil Nadu police derived the power to pass judgments and close all 112 complaints filed against former DMK minister K Ponmudy for his alleged derogatory statements against women, Shaivites and Vaishnavites. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Advocate-general P S Raman submitted that all the cases were closed after following due process by conducting a preliminary inquiry under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). It was concluded that the speech did not amount to hate speech; therefore, the complaints were closed, the AG added. In response to the AG's claim that the former minister was just quoting an incident that occurred 60 years ago, Justice P Velmurugan said, 'Can you (TN police) say that only the original speaker can be punished and not the subsequent speaker who made the same speech?' Poll Should politicians be held accountable for derogatory statements, even if quoting historical incidents? Yes, they should be accountable. No, context matters. 'They (politicians) cannot act like a king; the court cannot tolerate such behaviour. They must respect the public who are the victims,' the judge said. The remedy available to the complainants does not end here. Under the BNSS, they have an option to appeal to the inspector of general and the DGP if they are not satisfied with the findings of the investigating officer, the AG said. 'Let them (complainants) exhaust their remedies. Meanwhile, we (court) will keep the contempt petition pending. We will watch vigilantly,' Justice Velmurugan said. 'Nowadays, all the people think that the sky is the limit for them; we cannot be silent spectators. We are living in a democratic country; they (politicians) are bound to follow the constitution,' the judge said. People in public life must understand that this country is for all and not for a particular class of citizens, he added. Asserting that he will keep the suo motu contempt open, Justice Velmurugan directed the state police to ensure that all the complainants are served with the closure notice. 'If anyone comes to the court alleging that they have not been served with the closure notice, the court will be constrained to take serious action,' the judge said and adjourned the hearing to August 1.
India Today
08-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Politicians act like kings: Madras High Court raps ex-minister for vulgar speech
The Madras High Court came down heavily on former DMK Minister K Ponmudy over his derogatory remarks against Vaishnavites, Saivites, and women of the general category, warning that a CBI probe could be ordered if Tamil Nadu police fail to act against an event in April, Ponmudy made remarks linking Hindu religious identities with sexual a suo motu writ petition initiated by the court, Justice Velmurugan observed, 'Nowadays these politicians feel that sky's the limit under Article 19. We can't be mere spectators. We live in a democracy with many communities.'advertisement The judge further stressed that politicians, while addressing the public, must remember they live in a country meant for everyone, 'not for any particular person, not for the politician alone,' he said. 'Everyone must realise that they're living among the people.''Everyone is taking the mic and saying so many things as if they're the king. As if no one can do anything against the king. The court cannot just watch and tolerate all this,' the court said, as reported by Live Velmurugan also noted that, 'Unfortunately or fortunately, this is the first such case," listing the matter for August a viral video from the public event, Ponmudi was heard saying, 'Women, please don't misunderstand,' before narrating a joke where a man visits a sex worker, who then asks the man whether he is a Shaivite or the anecdote, when the man doesn't understand, she clarifies by asking whether he wears a pattai (horizontal tilak, associated with Shaivism) or a naamam (vertical tilak, associated with Vaishnavism). She then explains that if he's a Shaivite, the position is 'lying down,' and if Vaishnavite, the position is 'standing up'.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Time of India
Tamil Nadu man arrested for duping US Nagar woman of Rs 62 lakh through fake investment portal
Dehradun: A civil engineer from Tamil Nadu was arrested for duping a woman from Uttarakhand's Udham Singh Nagar district of Rs 62 lakh on the pretext of offering attractive gains on a fake investment portal. Uttarakhand STF and the state cyber crime unit, in a joint operation, arrested the accused after the woman lodged a complaint with the cyber crime police saying he contacted her through a matrimonial website. A case was registered against him under relevant sections of BNS and the IT Act. Police said Velmurugan, 36, – a resident of Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu – often deceived women by posing as a woman on his matrimonial site account. He would then lure them into investing in a fraudulent portal with promises of lucrative returns. DSP Ankush Mishra from the state cyber crime unit said Velmurugan was already booked in five cyber fraud cases in Tamil Nadu. "He was brought to Uttarakhand on warrant B. The accused was produced before the local court, and sent to jail on Friday." A probe is ongoing to nab others involved, if any, he added.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Why Pedestrians Can't Just Be An Afterthought
New Delhi: As India debates how to make its roads safer, experts at the National Road Safety Summit turned the spotlight on something often overlooked in city planning — people on foot. Pedestrian-centric road infrastructure and adherence to Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines, along with the critical role of road engineering, took the centre stage. A slide in the background set the tone for the discussion — it showed what an ideal road should look like: 360-degree visibility, clear lane markings, walkable footpaths, well-maintained vegetation, and smooth merging lanes. Speakers highlighted challenges such as inadequate signage, overgrown vegetation affecting visibility near crossings, and the dominance of vehicle-centric planning. "Engineering plays a crucial role in reducing fatalities, but it can only contribute up to 20% in crash prevention," said Dr S Velmurugan, chief scientist at CSIR-CRRI. "But engineering alone isn't enough. Crashes occur not only due to poor engineering but also due to a multitude of factors encompassing the other 4 Es. These include enforcement issues, lack of road user education, emergency care not available within the golden hour of the crash and poor environment. " He pointed out that India's national highways have nearly doubled, from 70,000 km to 1.44 lakh km in the last 12 years. Yet in cities like Delhi, pedestrians, cyclists, e-rickshaw and two-wheelers account for 75-80% of fatalities. "We need realistic targets and a systemic shift," he said One major concern got repeated mention — non-adherence to not having plantation for at least 120 metres at the median openings as well as at the intersections of the divided carriageways. Discussions also covered blocked or minimised zebra crossings, worn-out markings, and footpaths that are either missing or encroached upon. "Pedestrian infrastructure is routinely compromised," Velmurugan said. "We need an inclusive approach that respects every user's right to safe passage." A question brought attention to jaywalking on the Delhi-Meerut expressway, despite iron grills, questioning people's mindset and justifying the vegetation and iron grills. Dr Mukti Advani, senior principal scientist at CSIR-CRRI, said: "At many such locations, there is no pedestrian infrastructure. You can't blame behaviour when design fails." Children were flagged as especially at risk. "Over 50% of child traffic deaths happen on highways, and 36% in cities, often near intersections," said Syed Hubbe Ali, a health specialist at UNICEF India. Swantantra Kumar of 3M India added: "Safe school zones must anticipate child movement, with speed limits and signs marking entry and exit points." Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
