CHENNAI: The Madras high court on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu Police to release DMK MLA and leader of opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin after questioning him in connection with a case over his alleged remarks linked to actor Trisha. The court also asked the DMK leader to cooperate with the investigation whenever required.The order came while hearing Udhayanidhi’s anticipatory bail plea after Tamil Nadu Advocate General Vijay Narayan informed the court that the police had no intention of seeking his judicial remand.Appearing for the state, the Advocate General said Udhayanidhi had already been arrested and would be released on station bail after the inquiry.“He has already been arrested but will be let off after questioning. We do not intend to remand Udhayanidhi Stalin. He will be released on station bail after inquiry,” Narayan told the court, adding that the arrest had been made “in the interest of women.”Earlier in the day, the Thanjavur (East) Police arrested Udhayanidhi from his residence in Neelankarai, Chennai, and took him to Thanjavur for questioning in connection with an FIR registered over his speech at a Cauvery protest meeting on Monday.Before leaving with the police, Udhayanidhi appealed to his party workers to remain calm and peaceful, assuring them that he would fight the case through legal means.He has been booked under Sections 61, 79, 192, 196, 296(b), 351(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.Speaking to reporters before being taken away, Udhayanidhi denied making any derogatory remarks and accused his critics of circulating edited clips of his speech to create a “fake narrative.”“They have propagated fake news by using ‘Cut, Copy, Paste’ to claim I said something I never said. I am not the kind of person to be intimidated by all this. I will face it legally,” he said, calling the police action “a comedy.”The controversy stems from Udhayanidhi’s address at the Cauvery protest, where sections of the crowd chanted “Trisha, Trisha.” He allegedly responded, “Whether the water reaches anywhere else or not, it should reach there,” before clarifying that he was referring to Cauvery water.The women’s wing of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) subsequently lodged a complaint with the Thanjavur Police, alleging that the remark was a double entendre aimed at the actor.The DMK has dismissed the allegations, maintaining that Udhayanidhi’s comments were taken out of context and were directed at the government’s handling of the Cauvery issue, not at any individual.(With ANI inputs)
