In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has quashed the charge sheet against Kanal Kannan, a film stunt master affiliated with Hindu Munnani. The case, initially filed by the Central Crime Branch of the Chennai Police, accused Kannan of demanding the demolition of a statue of E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, popularly known as Thanthai Periyar among his followers. The statue, which stands outside the renowned Sri Rangam Ranganathaswamy temple in Trichy, has been a point of contention for Dravidian ideologists and their supporters. This decision marks a notable setback for Periyar’s advocates and the Dravidar Kazhagam party.
Critics are raising concerns about the perceived bias of the Dravidian Model (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu, particularly regarding its handling of law enforcement. On August 15, 2022, Kollywood stunt master Kanal Kannan was arrested in Puducherry, with claims that the Tamil Nadu police have been targeting him unjustly.
In stark contrast, the DMK government has faced criticism for its inaction against a woman associated with the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), who allegedly made inflammatory remarks threatening violence against members of Hindu nationalist groups, including the BJP, RSS, and Hindu Munnani. Despite the gravity of her statements, she remains unarrested.
Moreover, instances of registered hate speech and threats against Hindu leaders have reportedly gone unpunished, while Tamil Nadu police have been accused of disproportionately targeting members of Hindu organisations. Critics allege that police show a heightened interest in arresting BJP, RSS, and other Hindu outfit members, often invoking the Goondas Act and conducting arrests during late-night hours, likening their treatment to that of terrorists.
At a public meeting organised by Hindu Munnani in Chennai, marking the conclusion of its 34-day yatra, Kanal Kannan, the state president of the organisation’s Arts and Literary Wing, expressed his pride in being Hindu. He stated, “Being Hindu is a matter of pride. In the past, nations were conquered through swords and wars, but today, they are capturing countries through religious conversion.”
Kannan highlighted the significance of the Srirangam Ranganathar Temple, where thousands of Hindu devotees pray daily. He pointed out the statue of E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, who famously declared that “there is no God,” located opposite the temple’s main entrance. He proclaimed, “The day that statue is broken will mark the day of Hindu resurgence.”
In December 2006, a 12-foot statue of E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, known as EVR, was installed outside the Srirangam temple by K. Veeramani, the leader of the Dravidar Kazhagam, a group known for its staunch anti-Hindu stance. This installation took place despite significant protests from various Hindu organisations. The statue bears an inscription of Naicker’s controversial remarks: “There’s no God. Those who preached God are fools. Those who spread God are rogues, and those who worship God are barbarians.”
Kanal Kannan, a prominent stunt master recognised for choreographing action sequences in hit films, recently sparked controversy in Tamil Nadu with his speech calling for the demolition of the statue, which quickly went viral on social media. Following his remarks, a complaint was lodged with the Chennai Police Commissioner’s Office on behalf of the Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam.
In his bail petition, Kannan defended his position, asserting that demanding the removal of Periyar’s statue and criticising theists was justified. He criticised the police for arresting him instead of those responsible for installing the statue, which he claimed has hurt the sentiments of countless devotees who hold faith in God.
Kanal Kannan has filed a quash petition in the High Court, asserting that the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple is a sacred site where at least 100,000 Hindu devotees worship daily. He argued that the presence of the statue, which bears offensive statements, constitutes an offense under Sections 153, 505(1)(b), and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Kannan emphasised that there is nothing wrong with advocating for the removal of the EVR statue, located near a temple visited by thousands of devotees daily, especially given its derogatory remarks about theists. He contended that the authorities have unfairly targeted him while overlooking those responsible for placing the statue in front of the temple.
The quash petition was heard by Justice G. Jayachandran. After reviewing the arguments from both sides, the judge stated, “The complaint has been filed by a member of the Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam. The display of provocative statements directed at believers of God opposite a Hindu temple prompted this speech. Those who provoked the speech cannot benefit from their provocations and then prosecute the petitioner for his reaction.”
This is an important verdict. The learned judge has this to say: "provocative statements displayed near a Hindu temple had prompted Mr. Kannan’s reaction, and the individual responsible for provoking the response could not use this to prosecute Mr.…
— Badri Seshadri (@bseshadri) October 3, 2024
The court has granted Kanal Kannan’s quash petition, nullifying the entire prosecution that was pending before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Egmore.
Notably, K. Annamalai, the president of Tamil Nadu’s BJP, echoed Kannan’s sentiments during his state-wide campaign, En Maan En Makkal, in November 2023. He stated, “If the DMK insists on displaying atheistic slogans only in front of temples and not in front of mosques and churches, that is both illegal and offensive. Should the people choose the BJP to form the government in 2026, such atheistic slogans will not be tolerated. We have never insulted Periyar; his statue should be honored elsewhere but not placed in front of temples. Political parties must clarify their positions on this issue. If they disagree, they should display Periyar’s views on Congress, communists, and the DMK at their party offices. There should not be different standards applied to temples compared to political parties.”
