Chennai, Aug 4 (IANS) High drama unfolded in Thanjavur district on Tuesday after Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin reportedly refused to get down from a police vehicle when he was taken to Sengipatti Police Station for questioning in connection with a case registered over his alleged double-meaning remarks involving actor Trisha.
Police had initially planned to question the DMK Youth Wing secretary and Chepauk MLA at the Thanjavur South Police Station. However, the questioning venue was shifted to Sengipatti, apparently after a large number of DMK cadres gathered near the Thanjavur station.
According to a Thanthi TV report, Udhayanidhi objected to the change in venue and told police that, as per the court’s direction, he should be questioned at the police station concerned with the case. He consequently refused to step out of the police vehicle at Sengipatti, leading to further uncertainty over the inquiry.
The development capped a day of dramatic political and legal events that began when a police team arrived at Udhayanidhi’s Neelankarai residence in Chennai on Tuesday morning and took him away for questioning.
The case was registered following a complaint by a functionary of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s women’s wing in Thanjavur over remarks made by Udhayanidhi during a DMK protest on the Cauvery issue on Monday. The complainant alleged that Udhayanidhi made an objectionable double entendre involving actor Trisha while attacking Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
News of the police action triggered protests by DMK workers across several locations. Cadres gathered outside Udhayanidhi’s residence, the DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam in Chennai and at several places in Thanjavur district. Party workers also staged demonstrations along the route taken by the police vehicle carrying Udhayanidhi from Chennai to Thanjavur. Police detained several protesters as they attempted to block roads and raise slogans against the TVK government.
Meanwhile, the matter reached the Madras High Court, where the State informed the court that police had no intention of seeking Udhayanidhi’s judicial remand. Following the submission, the High Court directed that Udhayanidhi be released on station bail on Tuesday itself after completion of the questioning, bringing relief to the DMK amid the escalating political confrontation.
–IANS
aal/dan
