DMK Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin Arrested Over Remarks on Actor Trisha

Chennai, Aug 4: Tamil Nadu Police on Tuesday arrested DMK leader and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin from his residence over alleged objectionable remarks against actor Trisha made during a rally in Thanjavur on Monday, triggering a political row.

Udhayanidhi, who was seen smiling while being escorted by police, described the arrest as a “joke” and said he would fight the case legally.

The DMK condemned the arrest as political vendetta, with party leader TKS Elangovan maintaining that Udhayanidhi had not named Trisha or made any insulting remark in his speech.

The arrest followed a complaint by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which accused Udhayanidhi of making offensive, double-meaning remarks targeting Trisha during a protest gathering over the Cauvery water dispute. The party also approached the National Commission for Women seeking action against him.

TVK leader Americai Narayanan rejected the DMK’s political vendetta allegation, saying Udhayanidhi was arrested for allegedly insulting a woman and not for criticising Chief Minister and TVK leader Joseph Vijay.

The controversy erupted after Udhayanidhi, while criticising Vijay over the Cauvery water issue, responded to a chant of “Trisha” from the gathering with an alleged offensive double entendre.

The Tamil Nadu BJP had earlier demanded Udhayanidhi’s arrest, terming the remarks “disgusting, obscene and vulgar”.

The controversy has also revived criticism over repeated public references to Trisha’s alleged association with Vijay, with her legal team having previously objected to similar remarks by political leaders. (Agencies)