Madras High Court Refuses to Quash Case Against DMK Leader K Ponmudi

The Madras High Court in Chennai on Thursday refused to quash a criminal complaint filed against senior DMK leader and former minister K Ponmudi over his alleged derogatory remarks against Saivism, Vaishnavism, and women.

Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan declined to quash the case, observing that the politician's speech revealed a deliberate intention to wound the religious beliefs of Hindus. The court noted that Ponmudi used demeaning words and gestures to depict the customary practices of the Hindu religion in an obscene manner.

According to the court, the speech was intentionally made on account of Ponmudi's inability to propagate atheist ideology. Justice Ilanthiraiyan stated that a perusal of the speech delivered by the accused showed that he promoted hatred and ill will between atheists professing atheist ideology and persons belonging to the Hindu religion.

The court added that through his intentional, malicious speech, signs, and visible representations, the accused clearly attracted the offence under Section 196(i)(a) of the BNS, which deals with promoting enmity between different groups.

With the Madras High Court refusing to quash the criminal complaint, the legal proceedings against the senior DMK leader for promoting enmity and wounding the religious beliefs of Hindus will proceed.