Political tension escalated in Tamil Nadu after police arrested Anitha R. Radhakrishnan, a former minister and sitting DMK MLA, in a case involving controversial remarks against Chief Minister Vijay of the Tamil Vetri Kazhagam party. The arrest came shortly after the Madras High Court rejected his anticipatory bail petition. According to police, Radhakrishnan made the remarks at a public meeting in Aathur near Thiruchendur on June 20, during celebrations marking former CM Karunanidhi’s birth anniversary. His comments targeting CM Vijay were deemed capable of disturbing public order, prompting police to register a case. Fearing arrest, Radhakrishnan had sought anticipatory bail from the Madras High Court, but the petition was dismissed.
After the court order, police arrived at a government office where Radhakrishnan was inspecting development works and took him into custody. A special team from Aathur police station carried out the arrest. On learning of this, DMK party workers gathered in large numbers and surrounded the police vehicle, attempting to prevent his detention, raising slogans against the TVK government and creating brief tension before police moved him to Aathur police station near Thiruchendur.
Separately, the TVK government had recently sought Governor R.N. Ravi’s permission to allow investigation into money laundering cases registered by the Enforcement Directorate against Radhakrishnan and another former minister, V. Senthil Balaji, with Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar formally submitting the request to the Governor at Raj Bhavan, Guindy, on Monday.