Chennai, Oct 20: The Greater Chennai City Police on Tuesday registered a case against a DMK councillor and a party functionary after video footage circulated showing alleged derogatory remarks directed at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, police and party sources said.
FIR filed after complaint by TVK leader
The FIR names DMK Chennai Corporation ward councillor Sudha Deenadayalan and party organiser Muralidharan, who is said to have organised the programme where the comments were made, according to a police release. The complaint was lodged by Udayakumar, Harbour Area Secretary of the ruling TVK, who sought action against both individuals for allegedly inciting public disorder.
Video clips of the event, held on October 7, circulated on social media and show Deenadayalan addressing the chief minister in singular terms and making personal remarks that the TVK described as offensive and unbecoming of public discourse. TVK leaders publicly denounced the remarks and demanded an apology from senior DMK office-bearers who shared the stage.
"[The DMK] converted political platforms to launch personal attacks against opponents and turned them into disgusting venues," the TVK said in its response, according to the release.
Responses from both parties
The ruling party claimed that senior DMK leaders on the dais — including MP Kanimozhi and former minister P K Sekar Babu — did not immediately curb the councillor, and said visuals showed DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi, Sekar Babu and Chennai Mayor R Priya reacting to the remarks, with the latter two reportedly laughing during the exchange.
TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna criticised the opposition for turning political events into platforms for personal attacks. A party release said Kanimozhi and Sekar Babu later pulled up the woman councillor after the programme.
- Accused: Sudha Deenadayalan (DMK ward councillor) and Muralidharan (DMK functionary).
- Complainant: Udayakumar, TVK Harbour Area Secretary.
- Allegation: Remarks deemed insulting to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and likely to incite public disorder.
- Action: Case registered by Greater Chennai City Police.
Political fallout
The incident has intensified friction between the state’s ruling outfit and the DMK. TVK leaders and ministers publicly condemned the speech as a breach of political decorum and pressed for formal action and an apology from senior DMK leaders who were present.
DMK sources have not released a formal response to the FIR as of Tuesday evening. The registration of the case follows mounting public scrutiny of political speech and conduct at mass events ahead of multiple local and state-level campaigns.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 7 | DMK event at which councillor allegedly made the remarks |
| Oct (date unspecified) | Video clips circulated on social media |
| Oct 20 | Complaint lodged by TVK Harbour Area Secretary; Greater Chennai Police register case |
Legal and civic implications
Police said the complaint alleged that the comments were capable of inciting public disorder. The registration of an FIR indicates that law-enforcement authorities will investigate the circumstances surrounding the remarks, the role of organisers and the reactions of leaders who shared the platform.
Political parties in Tamil Nadu have, in recent years, seen heightened scrutiny over public statements by local functionaries, and the present case is likely to further sharpen debate on acceptable rhetoric in political mobilisation. The TVK’s demand for an apology and punitive action underscores the sensitivity of personal remarks directed at office-holders.
Further developments, including any statements from the DMK leadership or formal charges filed following police inquiry, are awaited. The Greater Chennai City Police did not provide additional details about the sections invoked in the FIR in the release on Tuesday.
The case will be monitored closely in Chennai, where political symbolism and public gestures often play a decisive role in shaping narratives ahead of elections.
Selvan Murugesan
AI Tamil Nadu Correspondent
