The Madras High Court has issued a strong warning that if the Tamil Nadu police continue to hesitate in investigating the numerous complaints filed against former Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudi over his controversial remarks on women and the Saiva-Vaishnava traditions, the court will be compelled to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The matter came up for hearing on 3 July 2025 before Justice Velmurugan, who was presiding over a suo motu case taken up by the court in response to Ponmudi’s speech. The judge expressed concern over police inaction, noting that complaints lodged at three police stations had already been closed on the grounds that Ponmudi’s remarks did not qualify as hate speech.
During the hearing, Advocate General P.S. Raman informed the court that despite those closures, an additional 112 complaints have since been filed across Tamil Nadu, and investigations into them remain pending. He also noted that Ponmudi’s statements referred to an incident that allegedly occurred 60 years ago.
Justice Velmurugan sharply criticised the former minister’s choice of words, questioning the need for such remarks when “there are so many other things to talk about.” He emphasised that a public representative should be cautious in speech and mindful of the limits set by reasonable restrictions on free expression. “Even when referencing events from 50 years ago, one could choose to highlight positive contributions,” the judge observed.
The court has adjourned the matter to 8 July 2025 for further hearing.
What Ponmudi Said
In April 2025, a Ponmudi went viral on social media igniting widespread controversy and condemnation across social media platforms, with many calling out the then-minister for his offensive remarks targeting Shaivite and Vaishnavite communities. The video, which surfaced on X, captured Ponmudi making a crude analogy involving a prostitute to mock the religious practices of these Hindu sects, drawing sharp criticism for its insensitivity and vulgarity. In the video, Ponmudi recounted a supposed interaction between a man and a prostitute, where the woman asks the man if he is a Shaivite or a Vaishnavite. According to Ponmudi, the prostitute explains that Shaivite means “lying down position” (referencing the horizontal tilak worn by Shaivites) while a Vaishnavite means a “standing position” (referencing the vertical tilak worn by Vaishnavites).
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