Tiruchendur DMK MLA and former Fisheries Minister Anitha R. Radhakrishnan was arrested at Authoor in Thoothukudi district on Friday (July 3, 2026) for allegedly making remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay during a public meeting held on June 20.
Following the arrest, Mr. Radhakrishnan was taken to Thoothukudi District Superintendent of Police office for further investigation.
Speaking to reporters before being taken to the Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital for a medical examination, Mr. Radhakrishnan said he would remain firmly committed to the DMK.
Stalin, Kanimozhi condemn arrestDMK president and former Chief Minister M.K.
Stalin on Friday condemned the arrest of Mr. Radhakrishnan, and said: “What was the urgent need to hastily arrest someone who was carrying out public work and conducting inspections in his constituency?
Tiruchendur DMK MLA and former Fisheries Minister Anitha R. Radhakrishnan was arrested at Authoor in Thoothukudi district on Friday (July 3, 2026) for allegedly making remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay during a public meeting held on June 20.
The arrest came shortly after the Madras High Court dismissed an anticipatory bail plea filed by Mr. Radhakrishnan in a case registered by the Authoor police in Thoothukudi district over his remarks against the Chief Minister.
Following the arrest, Mr. Radhakrishnan was taken to Thoothukudi District Superintendent of Police office for further investigation.
In the evening, he alleged that while he was in police custody, he was pressured to resign as MLA and join the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Speaking to reporters before being taken to the Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital for a medical examination, Mr. Radhakrishnan said he would remain firmly committed to the DMK. “Whatever the circumstances, I will remain steadfast in the DMK and continue to follow the path of my leader.” he said. “No one, no matter how powerful, can touch or destabilise us,” he added.
Stalin, Kanimozhi condemn arrest
DMK president and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday condemned the arrest of Mr. Radhakrishnan, and said: “What was the urgent need to hastily arrest someone who was carrying out public work and conducting inspections in his constituency? The Chief Minister is running a police raj in a cinema-action style.”
He questioned why the government, which has not taken action so far on the complaint filed by a “gang rape survivor” against the Srivaikuntam TVK MLA, and failed to show the same urgency in that case.
Accusing the government of failing to prevent murders, robberies, and sexual offences against women across Tamil Nadu, Mr. Stalin asked: “If arrests are to be made in defamation cases, how many of today’s ministers would have to be arrested for the remarks they make?”
DMK Member of Parliament (MP) Kanimozhi also expressed her condemnation, stating, “The DMK will never bow down to such oppression.”
