Madras HC reserves order on Annamalai plea in hate speech case

Chennai, Aug 31 (IANS) The Madras High Court on Monday reserved its order on a petition filed by We The Leaders founder K. Annamalai seeking to quash criminal proceedings over remarks he allegedly made at a 2023 press conference about Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar and Madurai Meenakshi Amman.

Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan reserved the verdict after hearing advocate Arun C. Mohan, representing Annamalai, and counsel V. Suresh, appearing for Salem‑based activist Piyush Manush, who had initiated the case through a private complaint in November 2023.

The prosecution centres on Annamalai’s reported claim that Thevar had warned in 1956 that a “blood abhishekam” would be performed for Meenakshi Amman if atheists continued insulting believers. The statement was allegedly made while Annamalai was responding to DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments on Sanatana Dharma.

Following the complaint, the Tamil Nadu government granted sanction on April 28, 2024, under Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to prosecute Annamalai under provisions of the Indian Penal Code. A Salem judicial magistrate took cognisance of the alleged offences and issued summons in February 2026, prompting Annamalai to approach the High Court.

Mohan argued that his client had merely expressed a political opinion and referred to a historically documented disagreement involving Thevar and former chief minister C. Annadurai. Although different accounts of the episode existed, he said their central theme was that Annadurai spoke at a temple event and Thevar objected to his remarks.

The defence also contended that the magistrate acted without holding a preliminary inquiry or allowing Annamalai to be heard. It further maintained that the complainant had not identified two distinct communities between which the statement had allegedly sought to promote hostility.

Opposing the plea, Suresh argued that the magistrate had correctly taken cognisance of a provocative statement allegedly intended to create communal divisions. Citing judicial precedents, he also submitted that Annamalai had repeatedly made similar speeches while serving as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Tamil Nadu president.

The complainant’s counsel maintained that the remarks attracted Sections 153A and 505(1)(c) of the IPC, relating respectively to promoting enmity between groups and inciting one community to commit offences against another. He urged the court to dismiss the petition and allow the prosecution to proceed.

The High Court will formally pronounce its decision on the petition at a later date.

–IANS

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