Political commentator and publisher Badri Seshadri was arrested from his Chennai residence early Saturday over remarks on the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud in connection with the Manipur violence.
Seshadri was taken from his home in Mylapore to Perambalur district where he was produced before the Kunnam magistrate, and remanded in judicial custody until August 11.
Perambalur SP C Shyamaladevi said a team from the Kunnam police station, where the FIR was registered, made the arrest.
An officer probing the case said Seshadri’s video interview, which was uploaded on YouTube on July 22, led to an FIR on a complaint from B Kaviarasu, a lawyer practising in Perambalur.
In the video, Seshadri said, the “Supreme Court is acting as if it is a big…. I don’t know what to call it… a revolver should be given to (CJI) Chandrachud… ask him to go to Manipur and bring peace there… Can you even intrude into the government’s jurisdiction? What blame are you finding against the government there? Two groups are fighting… It is hilly terrain… moreover, such a complex land….” The video was released by the ‘Aadhan’ YouTube channel.
The charges pressed against Seshadri include IPC sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 505 (1) (b) (intent to cause fear or alarm to the public).
Seshadri, 58, is the founder of Kizhakku Pathippagam, one of the leading publishers in Tamil Nadu. While he is known for his opinions in favour of right wing parties and organisations, he is not far removed from the ruling party either.
AdvertisementAfter the DMK came to power, Seshadri was part of the advisory council of the government’s Tamil Internet Education Council. He was dropped in October 2022 for his critical remarks on social media about DMK founder C N Annadurai.
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Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai condemned Seshadri’s arrest, accusing the DMK government of suppressing free speech.
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“The DMK government is unable to respond to the opinions of ordinary people and is resorting to arrests,” Annamalai said.
