On 24 September 2024, during the early hours of the day, Tamil film director Mohan G, known for his pathbreaking films such as Draupadi and Bakasuran, was reportedly arrested by Samayapuram police in Tiruchi district.
The details of the arrest were unclear, and it was assumed that it was because of some comments he made in a YouTube channel interview on a temple prasadam.
It later came to light that the arrest was made following a complaint lodged by Kaviarasu, a manager of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department at the Arulmigu Mariamman Temple in Samayapuram. The complaint stemmed from controversial remarks made by Mohan in a YouTube interview, where he claimed that the panchamirtham offered as prasadam at the Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple in Palani contained contraceptive pills, posing health risks to those who consumed it. Kaviarasu alleged that Mohan’s comments were false and intended to disrupt communal harmony in Tamil Nadu.
The controversy arose after a recent report from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) highlighted adulteration in the ghee used in the famous Tirupati laddus, which contained foreign fat and alleged to be animal fat such as lard, beef tallow, and fish oil. Mohan’s statement linked this to similar adulteration in the preparation of panchamirtham at Palani, alleging that the concoction could make people impotent. He further claimed that such adulterated items were destroyed, but the news was suppressed. Kaviarasu’s complaint emphasized that Mohan’s comments could incite unrest among the people.
Following his arrest, Mohan was taken to Tiruchi and produced before the Judicial Magistrate Court-III. However, the court, presided over by Judge K.R. Balaji, granted him conditional bail, noting that the charges against him were punishable by a jail term of less than three years. The police’s request for remand was denied, and Mohan was released on his own bail, with his counsel citing irregularities in the arrest.
Speaking to reporters his counsel said, “Director Mohan was arrested unlawfully from his residence by Tiruchi Police and was produced before Tiruchi JM3 Court in the evening. Just a few minutes before being produced in court, the Samayapuram Police Station registered a case against him. The case was regarding an interview he gave to the IBC Tamil YouTube channel. Only then, it came to be known that the case was because of this interview. When Mohan G was produced before the magistrate, we pointed out the irregularities in the arrest procedure and requested for release under own bail. The magistrate accepted this and has released him on his own bail.”
He further said, “The case was filed by a manager of the Arulmigu Mariamman Temple in Samayapuram yesterday evening at 6 PM. They filed documents stating that as soon as the complaint was filed, the arrest warrant was issued and that he (Mohan) appeared by himself at 3 PM. Due to these irregularities, the court has released Mohan on his own bail. Mohan G was not issued any notice, they received his signature at the court only. They literally ‘kidnapped’ him and brought him here. They did not inform the family as to who arrested him and brought him here. Only at 5 PM, after the complaint was filed was the family informed of it.”
He further added on the question of whether the court stated it was an illegal arrest, “There is no specific reason mentioned for the arrest and there are issues with the timings mentioned and this was the reason why bail was granted. Since Mohan G is from another district, his permanent address is in Chennai, so the court ordered that 2 witnesses be produced for the bail tomorrow or day after. Since the court has ordered so, he cannot be arrested.”
இயக்குநர் மோகன் ஜி மீது புகார் கொடுத்தது யார்?; பிணை கிடைத்தது எப்படி? – வழக்கறிஞர் விளக்கம்#MohanG | #PalaniPanchamirtham | #Advocate pic.twitter.com/TM1AwBnbHk
— PuthiyathalaimuraiTV (@PTTVOnlineNews) September 24, 2024
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