Updated On: 04 Aug 2026
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court directed the Thanjavur Police to release Udhayanidhi Stalin on station bail after questioning, recording the State’s submission that it had no intention of seeking his judicial remand in the case registered over his alleged objectionable speech on the Cauvery water-sharing dispute.
Appearing before Justice G. K. Ilanthiraiyan, Advocate General Vijay Narayan informed the court that Udhayanidhi had been arrested and taken to Thanjavur, but the police did not intend to remand him to judicial custody. He said the police only intended to question him and release him on station bail.
The Advocate General further submitted that the State’s objective was to protect the interests and dignity of women.
The court observed that since the petition before it was one seeking anticipatory bail, it was no longer maintainable after the arrest. However, the court noted that, based on the materials placed before it, it had the authority to grant bail if required.
Recording the Advocate General’s submissions, the High Court directed the police to question Udhayanidhi and release him on station bail on the same day.
The FIR relates to an allegedly objectionable speech delivered by Udhayanidhi at a DMK public meeting in Thanjavur on August 3 during a protest over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute. Based on a complaint, the Thanjavur East Police registered a case against him under Sections 196, 192, 352, 79, 296(b), 61 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, before taking him into custody.
Meanwhile, Udhayanidhi filed an anticipatory bail petition before the Madras High Court. In his plea, he contended that his speech on August 3, 2026, was a political address on the Cauvery issue protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and that his remarks referred only to the river dispute.
He denied making any derogatory or indecent remarks against actor Trisha Krishnan or Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, or using any words or gestures intended to insult the modesty of a woman. He alleged that his speech had been taken out of context for political reasons.
Udhayanidhi further argued that the case was politically motivated and intended to silence him as the Leader of the Opposition ahead of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Budget Session. He therefore sought anticipatory bail in connection with the case under investigation by the respondent police.
