Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested from his Chennai residence on Tuesday and subsequently released on station bail following questioning by police. The arrest followed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) based on a complaint from the women's wing of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party. The complaint alleged that the DMK leader made derogatory and offensive remarks during a protest rally in Thanjavur regarding the ongoing Cauvery water-sharing dispute.
During the rally, Udhayanidhi Stalin criticized Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, accusing his administration of failing to secure adequate water for the state's farmers. As he spoke, members of the crowd began chanting the name of a prominent film actor. Udhayanidhi paused his address and made a comment that critics characterized as an offensive double entendre. This remark triggered immediate political backlash, with TVK and other opposition groups accusing him of using vulgar language and disrespecting women.
Following his detention, Udhayanidhi was taken to a police station near Thanjavur for interrogation. The Madras High Court, which heard an anticipatory bail plea, directed the police to complete the questioning and release him on station bail, noting that the government had no intention of seeking judicial remand. Udhayanidhi has denied the allegations, maintaining that his speech was intended to highlight governance failures rather than insult any individual.
Upon his release, Udhayanidhi criticized the state government, labeling the administration a circus camp and describing the legal action against him as a politically motivated attempt to divert public attention from the Cauvery water crisis. The incident has led to widespread protests by DMK cadres across Tamil Nadu, with tensions remaining high between the DMK and the ruling TVK. The court has instructed Udhayanidhi to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation as the legal process continues.