Madras High Court Asks Former AIADMK MLA If He Will Publicly Apologise For Remarks Against CM Stalin, State Minister Udayanidhi

Kumaraguru had approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail after a case was registered against him for allegedly making defamatory and derogatory statements against the Chief Minister and the Youth Welfare Minister in a public meeting held on September 19, 2023.

When the matter came up before the court, the counsel for the petitioner informed the court that Kumaraguru had realized that he had used unparliamentary expression and had conveyed his regret through Twitter and WhatsApp.

Justice G Jayachandran however observed that after having made objectionable utterances in public, it was not proportionate to secretly communicate regret through Twitter and WhatsApp. The court was thus of the opinion that Kumaraguru should convene a public meeting in the same place where he had made objectionable utterances and tender apology.

“This Court, on perusing the F.I.R. and the objectionable utterance alleged to have been made by the petitioner in the public meeting, does not find any reason to grant protection from arrest. Having made objectionable utterance in the public meeting, secret communication in Twitter and Whatapp is not proportionate act of regret. If the petitioner is ready to convene public meeting in the very same place and tender apology, it will make some sense,” the court said.

The court allowed the counsel to seek instruction on the same and posted the matter to October 11, 2023.

Case Title: R Kumaraguru, Ex MLA v State

Case No: Crl OP 22927 of 2023