The judge emphasised that, in line with the Supreme Court's directive that hate speech cases must be registered suo motu, failure to do so would amount to contempt of court.
Published Apr 18, 2025 | 11:19 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 18, 2025 | 11:19 AM
Former Tamil Nadu Minister K Ponmudy.
The Madras High Court on Thursday, 17 April, directed the Tamil Nadu police to register a case against state Forest Minister K Ponmudy over his remarks made on a public stage, where he referenced sex workers to criticise Saivism and Vaishnavism.
The controversy arose after Ponmudy allegedly made remarks during a Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam event in Villupuram.
During the hearing of a disproportionate assets case against Ponmudy before Justice Anand Venkatesh, the judge had the minister’s speech screened in court, strongly condemned the content of the speech, and, based on a Supreme Court directive, ordered a clarification on whether a case had been registered against the minister.
When the matter was taken up again on Thursday evening, the Tamil Nadu Advocate General appeared and informed the court that five complaints were filed against Ponmudy and that they had been forwarded to the respective police stations for further action.
Subsequently, the judge instructed that instead of filing multiple cases and allowing the investigation to become diluted, a single case should be registered and pursued thoroughly. He also stated that an FIR must be filed against Ponmudy based on the complaint.
The judge emphasised that, in line with the Supreme Court’s directive that hate speech cases must be registered suo motu, failure to do so would amount to contempt of court.
The judge then adjourned the hearing to 23 April and directed that the details of the case registered against Ponmudy must be submitted on that date.
Earlier, the DMK had removed Ponmudy from the post of deputy general secretary of the party for his remarks. Following his removal from the post, Tiruchi N Siva has been appointed as the Deputy General Secretary of the DMK.
MP and DMK’s Deputy General Secretary Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and BJP Mahila Morcha National President and Coimbatore South MLA Vanathi Srinivasan had condemned Ponmudy.
Srinivasan demanded that Chief Minister MK Stalin immediately remove Ponmudy from the Cabinet and initiate legal action for insulting women and the Hindu faith.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
