Chennai: Madras high court on Thursday refused to quash a criminal defamation complaint filed against senior DMK leader and former minister K Ponmudi for his alleged derogatory remarks against Saivism, Vaishnavism, and women.. “The speech was intentionally made on account of his inability to propagate atheist ideology,” the court said.“The speech of the accused reveals a deliberate intention to wound religious beliefs of Hindus by using demeaning words and gestures depicting the customary practices of the Hindu religion in an obscene manner, allegedly on account of his inability to propagate atheist ideology,” Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan said.On a perusal of the speech delivered by the accused, it is seen that he promoted hatred and ill will between atheists professing atheist ideology and persons belonging to the Hindu religion. By his intentional, malicious speech, signs, and visible representations, the accused clearly attracted the offence under Section 196(i)(a) (offence of promoting enmity between different groups) of the BNS, the court added.The court added that Ponmudi also delivered an offensive speech implying an intention to strengthen and embolden followers of atheist ideology to make verbal attacks against the Hindu religion in a demeaning and obscene manner, without fear. The accused was fully aware of the consequences of his speech, particularly since he was an MLA and a state minister.The issue pertains to a private complaint filed by BJP West Mambalam councillor Uma Anand pending before a metropolitan magistrate court in Chennai.
