Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India]: The Madras High Court has directed Tamil Nadu police to file a First Information Report (FIR) against Tamil Nadu Minister K Ponmudy for his controversial comments that were allegedly derogatory toward Saivism, Vaishnavism, and women.
Justice N Venkatesh, who presided over the case, instructed the police to register the FIR without delay and submit a report to the court by April 23. This order was issued in response to a petition seeking legal action against Ponmudy for his allegedly offensive remarks.
Ponmudy’s comments have sparked widespread criticism from various religious and social groups, many of whom have called for accountability. With the court’s intervention, the matter is now under official investigation.
In a related development, AIADMK women workers staged a protest on Wednesday against Ponmudy’s alleged derogatory and “vulgar” remarks targeting women and certain sects of Hinduism. Speaking to ANI, AIADMK Women’s Wing Deputy Secretary Gayathri Raghuram claimed that Ponmudy had been making such statements repeatedly and demanded his removal from the ministerial post.
“K Ponmudy has been repeatedly saying things like these. His apology is also habitual. This runs in DMK’s DNA. We have seen how they treated Amma when she became the CM. They have removed him from the position, it is an eye wash, they have not taken any action, he has to be removed from the ministerial post,” Raghuram said.
AIADMK Spokesperson Apsara Reddy described Ponmudy’s remarks as the “lowest level of politics India has ever seen,” questioning why the people of Tamil Nadu should continue to tolerate a minister like him.
“Under the instructions of our General Secretary and former CM Edappadi K Palaniswami, we are protesting against the ridiculous speeches of the state minister K Ponmudy. DMK is in the habit of always making anti-women speeches, and it’s bordering now on sexual innuendo. This is the lowest level of politics India has ever seen. MK Stalin has not removed him as the minister, he has only removed him from the party position. Why do the people of Tamil Nadu need to suffer a minister like this?” Reddy remarked.
The situation remains tense as the investigation continues under the Madras High Court’s order.