Chennai: Former Tamil Nadu minister and senior DMK leader Anitha R. Radhakrishnan was arrested on Friday after the Madras High Court rejected his anticipatory bail petition in connection with a case related to alleged defamatory remarks made against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. According to police officials, Radhakrishnan was taken into custody while visiting Authoor, located approximately 23 kilometres from Thoothukudi. The arrest was carried out by a police team that escorted the legislator to a waiting police vehicle amid heightened security arrangements. The development triggered protests from DMK supporters present at the location, who raised slogans against the state government and condemned the police action, alleging that the arrest was politically motivated.
The case against Radhakrishnan stems from remarks allegedly made by him against Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, which resulted in legal proceedings and his subsequent application for anticipatory bail before the Madras High Court. Following the court’s decision to reject his plea, law enforcement authorities proceeded with his arrest. The incident has intensified political tensions in Tamil Nadu, with the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) accusing the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government of selectively targeting opposition leaders. The arrest has also sparked a broader political debate over freedom of expression, the use of criminal proceedings in political disputes, and the manner in which law enforcement agencies are responding to allegations involving political figures.
Reacting strongly to the arrest, DMK president and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin questioned the urgency of detaining Radhakrishnan while he was reportedly conducting official work in his constituency. In a statement posted on social media platform X, Stalin criticized the state government for prioritizing the arrest of an opposition legislator while allegedly failing to take action in other serious criminal cases, including allegations involving a ruling party MLA. He further accused the government of neglecting pressing law and order concerns such as murders, robberies, and crimes against women while focusing its efforts on political opponents. The arrest of Anitha R. Radhakrishnan is expected to further escalate the political confrontation between the ruling government and the opposition in Tamil Nadu, with both sides likely to intensify their accusations in the coming days.
