The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu Police to release Assembly Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on station bail on the same day, hours after he was arrested in connection with a controversial remark made during a public rally that has triggered a political storm across the state.
Udhayanidhi was taken into custody by the Thanjavur Police following comments made during a speech on the Cauvery water-sharing dispute. The remarks, which many interpreted as a sexual innuendo directed at actor Trisha while criticising Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from political parties.
Following the arrest, police reached Udhayanidhi's residence in Neelankarai, prompting his legal team to immediately approach the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail.
During the hearing, Tamil Nadu Advocate General Vijay Narayan informed the court that Udhayanidhi had already been arrested and taken to Thanjavur for questioning. However, he clarified that the police were not seeking his judicial remand and intended to release him on station bail after completing the inquiry.
Taking note of the submission, the Madras High Court directed the police to grant station bail to Udhayanidhi on Tuesday itself, ensuring that he would not be kept in custody beyond the questioning process.
The controversy originated from a speech delivered by Udhayanidhi at a rally on Monday addressing the long-standing Cauvery water-sharing dispute. During his address, he criticised Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay for allegedly failing to secure Tamil Nadu's rightful share of Cauvery water and remaining silent on the issue.
As he spoke, sections of the audience repeatedly chanted actor Trisha's name, referring to widely speculated reports about her friendship with Vijay. Responding to the chants, Udhayanidhi paused, smiled, and remarked that whether the Cauvery water reached elsewhere or not, it should "reach there," before adding that he was referring to the river.
The comment was widely interpreted by critics as a sexual innuendo involving the actor, leading to sharp criticism from opposition parties and sparking a fresh political controversy in Tamil Nadu.
The incident has intensified political tensions in the state, with rival parties accusing Udhayanidhi of using inappropriate language during a public speech, while his supporters have argued that his remarks were being taken out of context.
With the High Court's intervention, Udhayanidhi was directed to be released on station bail after the completion of police formalities. The legal proceedings in the case are expected to continue as the investigation progresses.
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