Tamil Nadu BJP Youth Wing State President Dr. SG Suryah has been repeatedly targeted by the DMK government and its political allies through police cases, arrests, and summons. Below is a documented record of the cases filed against him.
Case 1: Su Venkatesan Tweet Case (June 2023)
What happened: On June 7, 2023, Suryah posted a tweet addressing CPI(M) Madurai MP Su Venkatesan, accusing a CPI(M) ward councillor of forcing a sanitation worker to manually clean a drain filled with sewage, which allegedly led to the worker’s death. He called out Su Venkatesan for remaining silent over his party councillor’s alleged conduct.
Police action: The Madurai district cyber crime police arrested Suryah late on the night of 16 June 2023, in Chennai – acting on a complaint filed by CPI(M) Madurai district secretary Ganesan. He was arrested under multiple sections of the IT Act including provisions for promoting enmity between groups and intentional insult.
Remand and bail: He was produced before a Madurai court and remanded to judicial custody for 15 days till July 1. He was subsequently granted bail on June 20, 2023.
Case 2: Chidambaram Nataraja Temple Case (July 2023)
What happened: During the Aani Thirumanjanam festival at the ancient Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram, an incident involving alleged harassment by local authorities was reported. Suryah posted about the events on social media. The Commune, a digital news portal of which Suryah is a director, also reported on the incident.
Police action: The Chidambaram Town police filed an FIR based on a complaint by a revenue department official – reportedly registered after the official overheard conversations at a bus stand about the posts. Suryah was summoned to appear before the investigating officer on 4 July 2023.
Court: The Madras High Court granted Suryah conditional anticipatory bail on 17 July 2023, directing him to appear before the investigating officer morning and evening daily till further orders. Justice G Chandrasekharan noted that the FIR appeared “intended to curtail journalistic freedom.”
The case against The Commune itself was quashed by the Madras High Court in April 2025.
Case 3: Three-Language Policy Signature Campaign/Mittai Case (March 2025)
What happened: On 7 March 2025, Suryah organised a signature campaign titled “Equal Education Is Our Right” in support of the three-language policy in Chennai. During the campaign, he reportedly distributed sweets (mittai) to school children who participated in signing the petition.
Police action: Suryah was arrested and booked under the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 along with Section 126(2) (intentionally preventing another person from moving in a direction) and Section 192 (intentionally provoking others to commit a riot) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita – for involving school children in the signature campaign. He was released later the same day.
Case 4: RTI Data Case – Salem (February 2026)
What happened: During a protest organised by the BJP Women’s Wing in Salem, Suryah cited data on governance failures – data he stated had been officially provided by the Tamil Nadu government itself in response to a Right to Information (RTI) Act application. The information was thus sourced from the government’s own transparency mechanism.
Police action: Despite the data being government-furnished RTI information, a fresh criminal case was registered against Suryah in connection with statements made at the protest.
Suryah’s response: Calling it “continuous repression,” Suryah alleged that police were under pressure from the state government to make another arrest in connection with the case. He described the situation as “authoritarian rule” and said cases had been filed against him for speaking in television debates, highlighting DMK governance failures, and criticising the ruling party on public platforms. He added that even when he had been physically attacked by DMK members, cases had been registered against him rather than his attackers, despite video evidence.
Case 5: Fabricated FIR – TV Debate Venue Attack Case (January 2026)
What happened: On 9 January 2026, Suryah and BJP Youth Wing members attended a television debate at the Daily Thanthi office complex on Poonamallee High Road, Chennai. After the debate, DMK cadres allegedly gathered outside and attacked BJP workers. Suryah alleged that police had to escort him to safety inside the premises. In the violence that followed, Thanthi TV security guards were reportedly beaten – one person’s head was broken, another’s hand fractured and bleeding. Police officers were also allegedly attacked by DMK members.
The twist: Instead of booking the attackers, the Tamil Nadu Police registered an FIR based on a complaint by a woman who claimed BJP workers, including Suryah referred to in the FIR as “Rowdy Surya”, abused, assaulted, slapped, kicked, threw stones at her, threatened to kill her, and attempted to outrage her modesty. The FIR also claimed BJP workers said: “We are the ones who make the rules in Chennai.”
Suryah’s response: Calling it “a completely fake FIR,” Suryah pointed out that the incident occurred in a media complex with CCTV cameras and multiple mobile recordings – all of which, he said, clearly showed DMK members attacking BJP workers, not the other way around. Three injured BJP workers had filed hospital complaints; those complaints were ignored, and their names were added as accused instead. 10 to 15 BJP Youth Wing members were identified via CCTV and named as accused, while no DMK attacker was booked.
DMK angle: Suryah alleged that a Dravidianist YouTuber named Senthilvel, whom he accused of being financially backed by the DMK, had triggered the violence. He alleged Senthilvel had created disturbances at a debate on January 8 as well, and had returned with DMK supporters the following day. He also alleged that channel editors were being pressured to include Senthilvel in debate panels. The BJP secured interim protection from the Madras High Court.
Case 6: Thirupparankundram Karthigai Deepam Case (December 2025)
Background: The Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench, Justice GR Swaminathan, granted permission for the ceremonial Karthigai Maha Deepam to be lit at the traditional lamppost on Thirupparankundram hill under CISF protection, in addition to the long-standing practice at the Uchipillayar Temple. The DMK state administration cancelled the hilltop arrangements on the morning of the event, defying the court order. When the 6 PM deadline passed and the lamp was lit only at the Uchipillayar Temple, not at the Deepathoon as ordered – Justice Swaminathan issued an extraordinary directive allowing the petitioner and ten others to proceed to the hilltop with CISF escort.
What happened: Following the court order, Hindu organisations and BJP members assembled demanding enforcement of the hilltop lighting. When protesters attempted to cross police barricades to climb the hill, clashes broke out. Two police personnel sustained injuries. District Collector Praveen Kumar imposed Section 144 prohibitory orders across the area.
Police action: Thirupparankundram police registered a case against 15 people including BJP state youth wing secretary SG Suryah and Hindu Munnani members under seven IPC sections including trespassing, disturbing public peace, and damaging public property.
Key irony: The protesters were demanding compliance with a High Court order the state administration had already defied. Justice Swaminathan subsequently slammed the DMK government for failing to comply.
A tweet citing a CPI(M) councillor’s misconduct. An RTI report based on government’s own data. Sweets given to school children. Attendance at a TV debate. A demand that a High Court order be enforced. These are not the actions of a man inviting legal trouble. These are the ordinary activities of a politician doing his job, and in Tamil Nadu, under the DMK, each one has become a criminal case.
Case after case under the DMK regime – The number itself is the story.
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