Maridhas is active on social media opposing DMK, DK and other Hindu phobic outfits with documents, slides to prove his stand.
A post saying Tamil Nadu is turning into Kashmir attracted jail under sedition law. The ‘stooge’ of Tamil Nadu police are seriously scouting for social media scribes to book them under serious sedition and other laws on the behest of DMK minions and stifle the opposition voices.
You tuber and vlogger Maridhas, who has a fan following of over four lakhs, is a known DMK critic in the state. The left turned right-wing supporter has been active on social media opposing DMK, DK and other Hindu phobic outfits with his classroom like videos. The former college professor turned vlogger’s posts are more students and youth-specific. His posts are armed with documents, slides to prove his stand. During the previous AIADMK regime, police tried to arrest him unsuccessfully.
When the entire nation was grieving the demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 12 others, the Madurai police went to his house in Surya Nagar of K.Pudur with no warrant or summons with a heavy police force over 200 police officers. On hearing the posse of police officers, BJP cadres, advocates, well-wishers, and others gathered in front of his house. The senior police officer often came out of the house to take instructions from his superiors or political boss, who pressured him to arrest Maridhass. They wanted to see the copy of the summon or warrant, or FIR copy and what grounds he was booked. Deputy Commissioners TK Rajasekaran and Thangadurai spoke to the people at his house.
At one stage, BJP cadres relented, and Maridhas was taken to the police station. The police said they received a complaint from a person who turned out to be an IT wing worker of DMK. They also confiscated his laptop, mobile. When he was produced before the magistrate for remand, the judge asked the police to show the FIR.
The FIR was registered after the judge scolded them. In a hurry, the police made the FIR with sections 153 (a), 504, 505 (ii), 505 (i) (b) of the IPC. They have also included the 124a. The magistrate remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody. The police changed his jail from one to another nearly 5 to 6 times to avoid the BJP knowing where he was confined.
Maridhas posted a tweet alleging that DMK and DK supporters had made fun of Rawat’s passing and alleged that DMK was the first choice of separatist forces. He asked if Tamil Nadu was turning into a Kashmir under the DMK rule in the tweet he later deleted. He said separatist forces had to be stopped. (Muslims and others indeed rejoiced over the death of army personnel. In Coimbatore, at Peelamedu, college students hosted a party with wine, cake cutting and slogan shouting. There were so many posts belittling the sacrifice of the CDS and his entourage). He also posted a video against the DMK government regarding the death of Manikandan of Ramanathapuram after his release from police custody. In Tamil, he said, “The death of Manikandan from Mudukulathur tells us three things. Like some say, not just some communities, but all communities are affected by some police officials who are barbaric and want to be authoritative. So, nobody stands for the one without money.” BJP took up this issue and wanted justice for his family.
Last year, Benix and his father died mysteriously after alleged police torture in custody. The then opposition DMK and its allies demanded a CBI probe, arrest of police officers, compensation of 1crore and job to his family under pressure from the powerful Christian lobby. DMK MP Kanimozhi and Udhayanidhi Stalin visited the family without an e-pass. The case is now in CBI hands. DMK, which is in power, did not show the same sentiment in the present case. Maridhas also wrote about the media bias and said that the media in Tamil Nadu would run debates if it concerns minorities, and the perpetrator is not a DMK man.
The DMK government has been targeting BJP and RSS functionaries, and the list includes Kishore K Swamy (YouTube channel critic), Kalyanaraman of BJP ( twice booked under Goondas act), a youth from Kanyakumari and now Maridhass. TN BJP chief and former Police officer K. Annamalai said the DMK government arrested Maridhass purely out of vendetta and violated the freedom of expression. Taking to Twitter, he said the DMK government arrested Tamil Nadu BJP Kalyan Raman and ten other ‘nationalists’ to satisfy only their ego.
When BJP moved HC to quash the FIR against the Maridhass, the judge blamed the police for booking under sedition for a silly matter, and it was well within the meaning of freedom of expression. The case was posted for final disposal on Monday (13th Dec).
Annamalai said, “aBJP4Tamil Nadu would fight tooth and nail to get all of them out of their judicial confinement. Our party would take care of them and their families in all respects”. Later, addressing media persons, he said the state DGP was posing before cameras, and nothing happened. The police are not showing the same haste and zeal in arresting the posts by DMK, Muslims and others that allegedly promoted enmity and hatred between two communities, derogatory, threatening messages against PM, Home Minister and other BJP and RSS leaders. Many speeches of DK, VCK, and Muslim outfits were seditious, but there were no actions or arrests. There were posts rejoicing the helicopter crash near Coimbatore. They are 100 per cent more serious and seditious than what Maridhas has posted. Some of its affiliated allies celebrated the killing of Rawat, and others justified their death, linking PM’s hand in it, etc.
Annamalai warned that there is a limit for everything. The IPC sections are the same right from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.
Meanwhile, another case has been foisted against Maridhas. This time it pertains to a case of forging an email of a television channel’s associated executive editor (now with DMK’s Sun TV).
Maridhass faces charges of making malicious comments against the Muslim community. The law is one-sided in the state.
#ISupportMaridhas has started trending on Twitter already, even as many have shared about the Youtuber’s arrest.
