On Thursday, the Madras High Court instructed the police to file an FIR against Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudi by April 23 for his recent public comments that purportedly insulted Saivites, Vaishnavites, and women in an inappropriate way.
The court stated that if the order is disregarded, a suo motu case will be initiated.
Ponmudi had compared religious identities to sexual services
The order was issued by Justice N Anand Venkatesh, who was reviewing a public interest litigation regarding a speech made by Ponmudi a week ago, during which he purportedly compared religious identities to sexual services in a disrespectful anecdote.
The judge previously voiced worries during the hearing regarding the police’s inaction on a complaint against him or taking any further legal action against Ponmudi.
“There is no escape from this. Don’t register multiple FIRs. Just register one FIR and proceed with it. Law is for everybody. When government takes others’ hate speeches seriously, the same must be done when a minister himself makes it,” Justice Venkatesh observed.
PIL seeks Ponmudi’s disqualification and legal action
The PIL, submitted by an practicing lawyer and Vaishnavite Hindu B Jagannath, requested the disqualification and legal action against Ponmudi. The petitioner charged Ponmudi with delivering a hate speech aimed at fundamental Hindu beliefs and employing an obscene analogy related to prostitutes to ridicule the sacred symbols of Saivism and Vaishnavism.
The petitioner contended that the Minister’s behavior breached his constitutional oath and the secular nature of public office, claiming that a serving Cabinet Minister ought not to make such statements.
The PIL claims that the public meeting was not only disparaging but intended to provoke communal discord and animosity towards Sanatan Dharma, specifically focusing on Hindus. It raised doubts about whether the event received police authorization and claimed that law enforcement acted selectively due to political influence.
Jagannath’s affidavit details minister’s history of vulgar remarks
Jagannath’s affidavit detailed the Minister’s history of contentious remarks and referenced past corruption convictions that were put on hold by the Supreme Court with conditional relief. He emphasized that the Minister was already ousted from his role as Deputy General Secretary of the DMK due to the backlash, yet kept his cabinet portfolio.
The PIL also referenced earlier findings from the Enforcement Directorate linking Ponmudi and his family to an unlawful red earth mining operation. Assets valued at Rs 14.21 crore were temporarily attached in July 2024, with inquiries indicating that mining licenses were issued during Ponmudi’s time as Mines Minister to his son and associates, with proceeds reportedly funneled to foreign entities.
