The so-called “Dravidian Model” DMK government has now moved the Madras High Court to cancel the anticipatory bail granted to Madurai Adheenam seer Sri La Sri Harihara Sri Gnanasambanda Desika Swamigal. The BJP has strongly condemned the move, calling the DMK anti-Hindu and likening its actions to the persecution and atrocities of the Aurangzeb era.
This move follows the Chennai Principal Sessions Court’s decision on 19 July 2025, to grant the Aadheenam conditional anticipatory bail. The court held that his controversial remarks claiming an assassination attempt involving Pakistan did not, at face value, qualify as hate speech. “Though exaggerated, the statements made by the Adheenam do not prima facie indicate an intent to incite communal discord,” said Principal Sessions Judge S. Karthikeyan. He also noted that the controversy arose largely because media personnel persistently pushed the Aadheenam for provocative answers.
What Is The Issue?
The controversy began with an incident on 2 May, when the Aadheenam alleged that his car was deliberately rammed near Ulundurpettai, claiming an assassination attempt. However, police investigations, including CCTV footage review, found no evidence of foul play and concluded the collision was accidental. Following this, a case was filed against the pontiff under four sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges of inciting religious hatred and spreading false information.
Despite being granted bail on the condition that he cooperate with the probe, the Cyber Crime Wing questioned the pontiff on 20 July at his Madurai premises. According to sources, the Aadheenam, still bedridden post-surgery, struggled to sit upright during the hour-long inquiry. He reportedly asked to be assisted by an aide to retrieve relevant documents a request denied by the police, who also refused to allow legal counsel to be present.
The police’s handling of the situation has sparked widespread backlash, especially from religious and political groups. BJP supporters staged a protest outside the Aadheenam’s residence, condemning the interrogation of a frail religious figure and questioning the timing, intent, and lack of procedural sensitivity by the authorities.
BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan Compares Stalin To Aurangzeb
Condemning the DMK government and calling it anti-Hindu, Coimbatore South BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan asked the DMK government to stop its oppression of Madurai Adheenam.
“The anti-Hindu DMK government has launched an oppression campaign against Srila Sri Harihara Gnanasambadha Desiga Swamigal, the 293rd seer of Madurai Adheenam, of the oldest Saivite monastries in India. On May 2, Madurai Adheenam went by car to participate in the World Saiva Siddhanta Conference held in Kattankulathur, Chennai. At that time, his car met with an accident near Ulundurpet. He had said that this was a conspiracy to kill him and had given the identities of the people in car who caused the accident. Following this, the anti-Hindu DMK govt which had registered a case made a concerted effort to arrest Madurai Adheenam. The court had granted him anticipatory bail ordering an investigation to be conducted at his residence. The police have filed a petition in High Court seeking cancellation of Madurai Adheenam’s anticipatory bail saying he has not cooperated with the investigation.“, she said.
Adding further, Vanathi said “It seems that the DMK government is determined to somehow arrest and torture the elderly and physically ill Madurai Adheenam. Atrocities that did not happen even during Aurangzeb regime are happening under the DMK govt. This oppression of Madurai Adheenam should be abandoned by the DMK government.”
மதுரை ஆதீனம் மீதான அடக்குமுறையை @arivalayam அரசு கைவிட வேண்டும். pic.twitter.com/s4CD55dP1Y
— Vanathi Srinivasan (@VanathiBJP) July 23, 2025
BJP leader K. Annamalai came down heavily on the Tamil Nadu Police for filing a petition in the Madras High Court seeking to revoke the anticipatory bail granted to Madurai Aadheenam Sri La Sri Harihara Sri Gnanasambanda Desika Swamigal.
In a sharp rebuke of the police’s latest petition, Annamalai stated, “The Tamil Nadu Police’s petition to the Honorable High Court to cancel the anticipatory bail granted to Madurai Aadheenam Sri La Sri Harihara Sri Gnanasambanda Desika Swamigal is strongly condemnable. Just a few days ago, the Madurai Aadheenam, who is recovering from hernia surgery, was subjected to harassment for about an hour under the guise of an “inquiry” two days ago. Now, for the DMK government’s police to claim he is not cooperating with the investigation is clearly malicious. Law and order across Tamil Nadu is in disarray. The perpetrator of the sexual assault on a ten-year-old child has still not been found. There’s no time to investigate the DMK gang stealing kidneys. Even the police themselves are unsafe due to DMK cadres. However, the DMK government under the pretext of secularism is staging a drama citing flimsy reasons seemingly to appease someone. I urge the DMK government’s police to abandon this continuous harassment of the Madurai Aadheenam, who is recovering from surgery and also must immediately withdraw the petition seeking to cancel his anticipatory bail.”
மதுரை ஆதீனம் ஸ்ரீலஸ்ரீ ஹரிஹர ஸ்ரீ ஞானசம்பந்த தேசிக சுவாமிகள் அவர்களுக்கு வழங்கப்பட்ட முன்ஜாமீனை ரத்து செய்யக் கோரி, தமிழக காவல்துறை மாண்புமிகு உயர்நீதிமன்றத்தில் மனு கொடுத்திருப்பது வன்மையாகக் கண்டிக்கத்தக்கது.
கடந்த சில நாட்களுக்கு முன்பாக, குடல் இறக்கம் அறுவைச் சிகிச்சை…
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) July 23, 2025
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