Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition and DMK youth wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin was on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) arrested by police following a complaint registered by a ruling TVK functionary accusing him of making misogynist remarks at a public meeting in Thanjavur a day earlier.
Also read | Propriety in public discourse: On Udhayanidhi Stalin’s double entendre remarks
Addressing a public meeting, Mr. Stalin’s double entendre remarks were made in response to the crowd mentioning an actor’s name in response to a comment on what was important to Chief Minister Joseph Vijay. Addressing a protest gathering at Thanjavur on the Cauvery dispute, the LoP took a swipe at the Chief Minister, charging that while Tamil Nadu had not got a drop of water, Mr. Vijay remained unconcerned.
Meanwhile, a petition seeking anticipatory bail has been filed before the Madras High Court. During the hearing in the afternoon, Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan directed the police to release Mr. Udhayanidhi today on station bail after questioning. He also directed the Leader of the Opposition, who has been taken to Thanjavur, to cooperate with the investigation and appear for inquiry as and when required.
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Recording the submission during the hearing of anticipatory bail plea, Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan of the Madras High Court has now directed the police to release Mr. Udhayanidhi today itself on station bail after questioning. He directs the Leader of the Opposition too to cooperate with the investigation and appear for inquiry as and when required — Mohamed Imranullah
During the hearing of Udhayanidhi’s anticipatory bail petition at the Madras High Court, Advocate General Vijay Narayan said, police have arrested Mr. Udhayanidhi and taken him to Thanjavur but the police does not intend to remand him to judicial custody. The intention is only to question him. Judge recorded the submission — Mohamed Imranullah
Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan of the Madras High Court begins hearing the anticipatory bail petition filed by the Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin. In his petition, Mr. Udhayanidhi has stated that he had not made any derogatory remark or indecent statement against any person, including the Chief Minister or an actor. He also claimed that he did not use any word or gesture intended to insult the modesty of any woman and that an out of context interpretation had been given to his speech for political purposes — Mohamed Imranullah
AIADMK general secretary and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami urged the TVK-led government to drop the arrest proceedings against DMK leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Udhayanidhi Stalin, ahead of the Assembly session which is scheduled to commence tomorrow (August 5).
“The post of the Leader of the Opposition is a key position in the Assembly. It is condemnable that this government intends to have the session without the person holding that post,” he charged.
In a social media post, Mr. Palaniswami said: “We have been saying for several years that Mr. Udhayanidhi should mind what he speaks. It is condemnable that he made derogatory comments against women without realising the post he is holding.”
Public discourse is distinguished by some rules and codified conduct. While humour is a definite tool for wooing audiences, vulgarity should be afforded no place in interactions in a public forum. The remarks that Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin made on Monday (August 3, 2026), the video of which is now viral, sit squarely in the latter quarter, writes Ramya Kannan.
Propriety in public discourse: On Udhayanidhi Stalin’s double entendre remarks
Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, who was arrested in connection with a complaint alleging he made misogynistic speech at Thanjavur, accused the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government of resorting to [video] “cut-and-paste” techniques to attribute words to him that he had never uttered.
Udhayanidhi Stalin claims the TVK government misattributed his words, calling their tactics diversionary following his arrest for alleged misogyny.
Visuals showed the women’s wing of the TVK party staging a protest against Udhayanidhi Stalin in Madurai
The DMK youth wing on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) condemned the arrest of its leader, Udhayanidhi Stalin, alleging the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government had resorted to the action instead of responding to the questions he had raised over its handling of the Cauvery water dispute.
In a statement, the youth wing said the arrest reflected the government’s “helplessness”.
Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition and DMK youth wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin was on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) arrested by police following a complaint registered by a ruling TVK functionary accusing him of making misogynist remarks at a public meeting in Thanjavur a day earlier.
The complaints against him include allegations that he made indecent, double entendre remarks seemingly directed at an actor during his speech. Based on the complaint, the Thanjavur East Police had filed a case against the DMK leader under Sections 196, 192, 352, 79, 296(b), 61 & 351(2) BNS, 4 of the TNPHW Act and 67 of the IT Act.
Udhayanidhi Stalin arrested for misogynist remarks amid tensions with DMK supporters, as legal challenges arise in court.
Published - August 04, 2026 01:27 pm IST
Live news / Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam / Tamil Nadu / state politics / Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam / demonstration / arrest
Source: The Hindu - India News
