Rangarajan Narasimhan, a well-known temple activist and vocal critic of the DMK government’s temple administration policies, has been arrested by the Chennai Cyber Crime Police for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Sriperumbudur Embar Jeeyar.
The arrest comes in the wake of a complaint filed by Embar Jeeyar, who alleged that Rangarajan uploaded a distorted and unauthorized phone conversation between them on YouTube. The activist, who runs the channel “Our Temples,” is now in judicial custody for 14 days.
According to police sources, Rangarajan had uploaded a video on December 6 in which he made controversial claims that Udhayanidhi Stalin performed rituals to remedy a supposed “Brahmana Dosham” (a curse linked to Brahmins), allegedly advised by an astrologer. Rangarajan claimed that Udhayanidhi had summoned Srivilliputhur Jeeyar, Alwarthirunagari Jeeyar, and Sriperumbudur Embar Jeeyar to his residence, performed paadha puja (ritual feet washing), offered food, and sought blessings to overcome this dosham — supposedly in hopes of securing victory in the 2026 elections.
The controversy deepened when Rangarajan released an audio clip of a phone conversation with Embar Jeeyar, where the Jeeyar allegedly confirmed his visit. However, Embar Jeeyar contended that the recording was made without his knowledge or consent, edited to misrepresent the context, and shared publicly without permission.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita — Sections 192 (provocation with intent to cause riot), 352, 352(1)(A), 353(1)(B) (intentional insult provoking breach of peace), and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.
Adding to the seriousness of the situation, Rangarajan Narasimhan — who had earlier filed a legal case against the DMK government for alleged irregularities in Hindu temple administration — was reportedly attacked by DMK-affiliated individuals in the Trichy court premises today. The attack has sparked concern among his supporters, who are urging the public to share his case widely and ensure his safety.
