Madras High Court Orders Release of Udhayanidhi Stalin Amid Controversy

Court Directs Immediate Release

On Tuesday, the Madras High Court instructed the Tamil Nadu police to release Udhayanidhi Stalin, the leader of the opposition in the assembly, on station bail the same day. His arrest was linked to a controversial remark that many associated with actress Trisha. This court order came shortly after Udhayanidhi was taken into custody for comments made during a speech regarding the Cauvery water dispute, where he criticized Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. The remark was interpreted as a sexual innuendo due to its connection with Trisha and Vijay's friendship, sparking political outrage and condemnation from various parties across the state.

Legal Action Following Arrest

Immediately after police arrived at Udhayanidhi's residence in Neelankarai, his legal team filed for anticipatory bail in the Madras High Court. During the hearing, Tamil Nadu's Advocate General Vijay Narayan informed the court that Udhayanidhi had been arrested by Thanjavur police and was taken there for questioning. However, he clarified that the police were not seeking judicial remand and intended to release him on station bail after the questioning was completed. Acknowledging this, the Madras High Court ordered the police to ensure Udhayanidhi's release on station bail on Tuesday.

Controversial Remarks on Trisha and CM Vijay

The controversy originated from Udhayanidhi's speech at a rally concerning the Cauvery water-sharing issue, where he accused the Chief Minister of failing to secure Tamil Nadu's share of river water and remaining silent on the matter. While addressing the crowd, a section repeatedly mentioned actress Trisha's name, hinting at her well-known friendship with Vijay. Udhayanidhi paused, smiled, and remarked that whether the Cauvery water reaches elsewhere or not, it should 'reach there,' adding that he was referring to the river. Critics interpreted this statement as a sexual comment, leading to significant political backlash and denunciation from opposition parties.