Police picked up Seshadri from his residence in Mylapore on Saturday morning and he has been remanded to judicial custody till 11 August.
Published Jul 29, 2023 | 1:40 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 29, 2023 | 8:22 PM
Kaviyarasu, an advocate and resident of Kunnam, lodged a complaint with the local police stating that Seshadri's interview was mocking the Chief Justice of India. (Commons)
A prominent publisher from Tamil Nadu, Badri Seshadri, was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police for his remarks against the Chief Justice of India regarding the Manipur violence.
A team of Kunnam police attached to the Perambalur police reached Chennai and knocked on the doors of the publisher’s house at 5 am on Saturday morning, 29 July, based on a complaint from an advocate.
The police picked up 58-year-old Seshadri from his residence in Mylapore. He was served with an arrest warrant and was later taken to Perambalur by the police.
Seshadri has since been remanded to judicial custody till 11 August by the Magistrate Court in Perambalur.
In a recent interview on a YouTube channel on 22 July, while answering a question regarding the Manipur violence, Seshadri was critical of the judiciary.
Referring to the remarks of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud that the court would interfere in the Manipur issue if the Union government fails to take action, the publisher questioned the knowledge of the judges about the ground reality in the Manipur issue.
He went on to question whether CJ Chandrachud would dare to stand in Manipur wielding a gun.
Arrest Memo served to Badri’s family. (Supplied)
Following this, Kaviyarasu, an advocate and resident of Kunnam, lodged a complaint with the local police, stating that Seshadri’s interview was mocking the Chief Justice of India and also defaming the honour of the Supreme Court and the judicial system of the country.
Stating that the publisher’s statement was amounting to causing enmity between sects of people, Kaviyarasu said that Seshadri was trying to create unrest in society. Hence, he sought action against the publisher for his remarks.
Based on the complaint, the Kunnam police registered a case under Sections 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), and 505 (1)(b) (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility) of the Indian Penal Code.
Badri Seshadri is the founder of Kizhakku Pathippagam, a leading publisher in Tamil Nadu.
BJP State Unit President K Annamalai condemned the arrest, stating that the DMK government is absurd in facing the views of a common man and relying on the arrest by the police.
புகழ்பெற்ற பதிப்பாளர், மேடைப் பேச்சாளர் திரு @bseshadri அவர்களை தமிழக காவல்துறை இன்று அதிகாலை கைது செய்துள்ளதை @BJP4TamilNadu வன்மையாகக் கண்டிக்கிறது.
சாமானிய மக்களின் கருத்துக்களை எதிர்கொள்ள திராணியற்று கைது நடவடிக்கையை மட்டுமே நம்பி இருக்கிறது இந்த ஊழல் திமுக அரசு.
ஊழல்…
— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) July 29, 2023
Political observer Sumanth Raman, taking to social media, questioned, “Did the CJI or the judiciary raise this issue with the state government asking for action to be taken? Or did the state government decide to act on its own on behalf of the judiciary?”
Condemning the arrest, Sumanth said that the state’s attempt to intimidate every dissenting voice will backfire for sure.
Did the CJI or the judiciary raise this issue with the State Govt asking for action to be taken? Or did the State Govt decide to act on its own on behalf of the judiciary? If it was the latter it is simply shocking. Strongly condemn the arrest of @bseshadri . The attempt to… https://t.co/hanlGdGvoX
— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) July 29, 2023
