In a distressing turn of events, Uma Garghi, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporter and social media influencer, has once again been arrested by the Tamil Nadu police. This latest arrest comes in the wake of an earlier detention by the Coimbatore police on June 20, which many view as an attempt to stifle freedom of speech and silence dissenting voices.
The Coimbatore City Cyber Crime Police took action on Tuesday (20 June 2023), arresting Uma Garghi on allegations of sharing defamatory posts targeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, former CM M Karunanidhi, and Dravidian movement leader EV Ramasamy.
The arrest was instigated by a complaint filed by the coordinator of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Information Technology (IT) wing in the Coimbatore district, further fueling concerns over the government’s growing interference in the exercise of freedom of expression.
Uma Garghi has been charged under the stringent Section 505 (1)(c) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which criminalizes the dissemination of statements or reports that incite enmity or hatred among different communities based on factors such as race, religion, caste, or other identities.
The alleged defamatory comments made by Garghi revolved around accusations against former CM Karunanidhi, claiming that he had received a substantial sum of ₹200 crore as “commission” from a Hyderabad-based company in relation to the establishment of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nanguneri, Tirunelveli district.
However, in a worrisome development that reeks of intimidating tactics, Uma Garghi was arrested once again by the Chennai police today (June 24), just as she was poised to secure bail in her previous case. This move is seen by many as an orchestrated attempt by the DMK government to prolong her detention. She has now been re-arrested under a new case, numbered 113/2023, registered in Chennai on the 18th, and has been sent to Puzhal Jail in Chennai.
The BJP Tamil Nadu Industrial Cell Vice President Selva Kumar vehemently condemned the arrest, stating, “Uma was produced in court in Coimbatore yesterday for Case No: 58/2023 filed against her, and she was set to be released on bail on Monday. However, she was re-arrested under case number: 113/2023, registered on the 18th in Chennai and sent to Puzhal Jail. Reports indicate that a 15-member special force had been waiting in Coimbatore for several days to effect her arrest. The Dravidian Model Government is misusing Section 66F of the Information Technology Act (Cyber Terrorism) to target social media posts, while real terrorists in Coimbatore are allowed to go free by the police. The growth of the BJP is a result of the sacrifices made by its countless supporters, and we will never succumb to intimidation or false charges. We will wage a legal battle in Chennai to bring our sister back.”
The arrest and subsequent re-arrest of Uma Garghi have raised serious concerns about the state of free speech and the suppression of dissenting voices in Tamil Nadu.
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