DMK MLA Anitha R Radhakrishnan Arrested After Court Rejects Bail Plea In CM Vijay Remarks Case
DMK MLA and former Tamil Nadu minister Anitha R. Radhakrishnan was arrested on Friday after the Madras High Court declined to grant him anticipatory bail in a case linked to his alleged remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK president C. Joseph Vijay. The arrest has triggered a fresh political confrontation between the ruling government and the opposition in the state.
The case stems from a public meeting held in Athur near Tiruchendur on June 20, where Radhakrishnan allegedly made controversial comments targeting the Chief Minister while addressing a gathering organised to mark the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. Following complaints over the speech, police registered a case accusing the DMK leader of making objectionable and provocative remarks.
Soon after the High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea, police took Radhakrishnan into custody. The court observed that a sitting legislator was expected to exercise restraint while making public statements, clearing the way for the police to proceed with the arrest.
According to investigators, the complaint centres on remarks in which the DMK MLA allegedly mocked Vijay's transition from the film industry into politics and criticised his conduct during a recent Assembly session. Police are continuing their investigation into the speech and the circumstances surrounding the case.
The arrest quickly sparked protests from DMK workers, who accused the government of targeting opposition leaders through legal action. Senior DMK leader and MP Kanimozhi strongly criticised the move, alleging that the MLA was detained while inspecting development works in his constituency and describing the action as politically motivated. She maintained that the DMK would continue to oppose what it called attempts to silence the opposition.
The development has further intensified the political rivalry between the DMK and Vijay's TVK, with both parties already engaged in a fierce war of words ahead of future electoral battles. As the investigation progresses, the case is expected to remain at the centre of Tamil Nadu's political discourse in the coming days.
