Former DMK minister and Thoothukudi South district DMK secretary Anita Radhakrishnan was arrested on Friday in connection with a case alleging defamatory remarks against Chief Minister Vijay. The arrest followed the rejection of her anticipatory bail plea by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
The case stems from a DMK public meeting held at Aathur in Thoothukudi district on June 20, where she allegedly made remarks about the Chief Minister. A complaint was later filed by Selvam, Aathur town secretary of the TVK, seeking action over the speech. Police registered a case under two sections, including one related to defamation.
Hearing her anticipatory bail petition, Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan observed that the petitioner was not an ordinary citizen but an MLA, and questioned the need for such remarks. The court dismissed the plea, after which instructions were issued to proceed with her arrest.
Police reached the Aathur town panchayat office around 11.30 am while she was attending a review meeting and informed her that they had come to arrest her following the court order. DMK workers gathered at the spot and argued with the police; she later said she would go to the station in her own car, but police did not permit it and took her in a jeep to the Thoothukudi SP office.
She was questioned for over two hours and told police she was undergoing treatment for multiple health issues. A medical team examined her and said her condition was stable. She was then taken for further medical checks at the Thoothukudi Government Hospital and later produced before the Tiruchendur court, triggering heightened tension in the district.
