R Varadharajan, a 71-year-old former police officer turned political commentator and YouTuber for ‘Nethaji TV’, has broken his silence after spending 21 days in jail, a period he describes as a “gift from the rulers.” He was released on bail on 28 October 2025 night in a case related to a social media post made in 2024.
In an emotional video address posted after his release, a visibly fatigued Varadharajan detailed his ordeal, expressed gratitude to his supporters, and reaffirmed his commitment to independent political criticism.
The Ordeal: Arrested Before Diwali
Varadharajan alleged that his arrest was strategically timed to ensure he could not celebrate the Diwali festival with his family. “The rulers arrested me just a few days before Diwali with the intention of not letting me celebrate the festival with my family,” he stated.
He described this as a profound personal loss, emphasizing the importance of family traditions at his age.
He said, “That I shouldn’t celebrate Deepavali with my family. For that reason, they ensured that I shouldn’t come out for Deepavali, stay in a room in prison, and not even celebrate or know it was Deepavali without even knowing the sign of it. 21 days. They did everything they could to keep me in.”
He recounted the significant physical and mental toll of the incarceration. “There were moments inside when I thought my heart would stop… I have no prior experience with this. At this age, being sent to jail… can you compensate for that? They didn’t consider this for a second,” he shared.
A Cry of Gratitude and Support
Despite his hardship, Varadharajan’s message was filled with gratitude for the support he received. He credited his release to the “prayers of all the good people” like his viewers.
He specifically thanked several individuals and groups who stood by him:
Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK): He expressed his “first thanks” to TVK lawyers and its leader, Vijay, for being present both during his remand and upon his release.
AIADMK Legal Wing: He acknowledged the support offered by the AIADMK’s legal wing secretary, Inbadurai.
Fellow YouTubers and Commentators: He thanked commentators like Kishore Swamy, Karthik Gopinath of Ilayabharatham, and ‘Savukku’ Shankar for using their platforms to speak about his detention and rally public support. He noted that Shankar, despite being criticized by him in the past, supported him on the principle of backing a neutral voice.
“When Kishore Swamy posted about my situation, there were thousands of comments in the video — hundreds of people liking each one. Only then did I realise how many stood by me,” he said. He also thanked his followers from India and abroad for their prayers and support.
Reaffirming His Role as a Critic
Varadharajan used the platform to firmly restate his identity as an impartial political critic. “I am a critic. If there is a mistake, I am a critic who can point it out. In a democratic country, a political critic is an important thing,” he asserted.
He stated that his criticism is not partisan, listing leaders from various parties—including Sasikala, Thol. Thirumavalavan, Premalatha, Vaiko, and Edappadi K. Palaniswami—whom he has criticized in the past. “Whoever does wrong, we will criticize them. I have never taken money from anyone to speak in support or opposition,” he said.
Concluding his address, Varadharajan stated that he needs time to recover from the physical strain of his imprisonment. He promised to return to engage with his audience once his health is restored, signaling that his time in jail has not silenced his voice.
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