Tamil Nadu Police on Saturday arrested political commentator and publisher Badri Seshadri from his residence in Chennai for remarks on Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, and the Supreme Court, over its hearing of a case on the Manipur violence.
Seshadri was taken from his home in Mylapore to Perambalur district where he was produced before the Kunnam magistrate, and remanded in judicial custody until August 11.
The arrest was made based on a complaint from a lawyer, Kaviyarasu of Kadur village, who had lodged a complaint at the Kunnam police station in Perambalur district against Seshadri.
According to police, the case against Seshadri was registered under Sections 153( wantonly giving provocation with the intention to create riot), 153 A( promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony and 505 1(b)( with intent to cause or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public) of the Indian Penal Code.
Seshadri had reportedly said, “The Supreme Court has said that if you (the government) cannot do anything, we (the court) will. Let’s give a gun to Chandrachud (CJI) and send him there. Let’s see if he can restore peace.”
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has condemned the arrest. He said the DMK government has been targeting ordinary people for their opinion and added that the state government was unable to respond to the opinions of ordinary people and was resorting to arrests.
