On 25 October 2023, the police arrested Veerapandi Kumaresan, a member of the Naam Tamilar Katchi, for allegedly posting a defamatory cartoon targeting the late former Chief Minister and DMK patriarch, M. Karunanidhi, on social media. Kumaresan is also facing charges for issuing death threats to DMK functionaries who raised concerns about his controversial post.
The arrest was made following a formal complaint lodged by Murugesan, the Secretary of the 56th ward of Karunkalpatti DMK, with the Chevvaipet police in the district.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the accused, Kumaresan, aged 49 and hailing from Salem Dadagapatti, had previously served as the vice-president of the Salem South Constituency within the Naam Tamil Katchi, led by Seeman. Kumaresan is also known to own an auto parts shop in Salem.
#JUSTIN | நாம் தமிழர் கட்சி பிரமுகர் கைது#NTK | #Salem pic.twitter.com/J37JETtSKB
— PuthiyathalaimuraiTV (@PTTVOnlineNews) October 25, 2023
Kumaresan, an active participant on social media, had posted an alleged ‘disparaging’ image of former Chief Minister Karunanidhi, which prompted the DMK IT Wing to file an official complaint at the Salem City Sevvaipet Police Station. Based on this complaint, Kumaresan, a member of the Naam Tamil Party, was brought in for questioning by the police.
As a result of the investigation, Kumaresan was subsequently arrested by the Sevvaipet police department under six sections of the law, which included charges related to the dissemination of defamatory content on social media.
Following his arrest, Kumaresan was presented before the Third Criminal Magistrate’s Court in the Salem Combined Court Complex. Lawyers representing Kumaresan from the Naam Tamil Party requested bail for their client. After deliberation, the judge ordered judicial custody for Kumaresan until the third of November 2023.
The TN Police have been on a spree of arrests with their crackdown on voices speaking against the ruling party.
Maybe time to set up a Ministry in TN just to arrest people posting on social media. The number of people being arrested for social media posts is just absurd. And the ruling party folks are vocal in criticizing the BJP for doing the same. Again my point is proven. Both are the… https://t.co/BRmGfSwDBh
— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) October 25, 2023
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