YouTuber M. Maridhas, known for exposing corruption during the DMK government and now for his criticism of the current TVK regime, has been arrested for allegedly posting defamatory content on social media.
Chennai City Police arrested well-known YouTuber Maridhas, or Maridhas Malaichamy, known through his YouTube channel Maridhas Answers, on June 8 at his Madurai residence for allegedly posting a series of critical videos targeting CM Joseph Vijay, his cabinet colleagues, and the TVK government.
It is learnt that the Cyber Crime Department of the Chennai Police acted suo motu following continuous allegations and critical comments online regarding government functioning.
A special team from the Cyber Crime wing reached Madurai on June 8 and took social media influencer and YouTuber Maridhas into custody. He was brought to Chennai for further questioning.
Reports said, “Maridhas has been detained for questioning regarding a case registered by the Cyber Crime wing.”
Reacting to the arrest, TN BJP chief Nainar Nagendran claimed that the TVK is worse than the DMK with respect to curtailing freedom of expression.
In a statement, he said: “The Vijay government’s crackdown on social media activist Maridhass solely for exposing the ruling party’s reel-model government to the public is deeply condemnable. Is this the alternative politics that TVK promised? Being unable to tolerate even ordinary criticism of their administration and unleashing repression in this manner is a disgrace.”
Adding further, the TN BJP chief said: “Governments change, but the misery remains. TVK came to power by winning over public sentiment as an alternative to the DMK, only to stifle the voices of the public at an even more alarming pace than the DMK itself. It must release him forthwith.”
TN BJP senior spokesman Narayanan Thirupathi, in a post on X, said: “The arrest of YouTuber @MaridhasAnswers today by the current TVK government, which is undoubtedly the DMK’s 2.0 regime, is highly condemnable. A government led by Joseph Vijay that murders democracy and crushes freedom of expression deserves severe condemnation for carrying out such anti-democratic actions. The judiciary, which has already criticised several unwanted arrests by the DMK government, will also condemn the anarchic behaviour of the present @TVKVijayHQ government. Maridhas must be released immediately.”
He warned: “If the rulers think that they can run amok just because they are in power, then the people of Tamil Nadu will throw them away just as they threw away the @arivalayam government for its arrogance.”
TN BJP leader Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan said in a statement: “Strongly condemn the arrest of Sri @MaridhasAnswers, who has been consistently exposing the irregularities and failures of the present TVK government. Silencing voices that question those in power is against the spirit of democracy. The government must respect freedom of expression and address the issues raised instead of targeting those who bring them to light. However, any adverse comment about any woman is unacceptable. Everybody should respect womanhood with dignity and decorum in public life. As a woman leader, I will always stand for women’s rights and dignity.”
The previous DMK regime had zero tolerance for criticism. It arrested social media activists and YouTubers for making comments about the DMK, its ministers, CM Stalin, and his family. The police appeared focused solely on monitoring, pursuing, and arresting such individuals until the TVK government came to power. The High Court rapped Tamil Nadu police officials for blindly invoking the Goondas Act against social media activists and journalists.
Recently, a High Court Bench ordered the personal appearance of former Chennai Police Commissioner and current head of the DVAC, Arun IPS.
The High Court also referred to previous instances where detention orders issued by Arun IPS had come under judicial scrutiny, including the detention of political commentator Savukku Shankar, which was ultimately revoked after the Advisory Board found insufficient grounds for detention.
The court observed: “On 26.05.2026, he (Arun IPS) had been appointed as Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, a post held by persons of exceptional calibre and integrity such as C.V. Narasimhan and C.L. Ramakrishnan. Even a whiff of allegation was never made against them during their entire career. Corruption is a major social evil and it is eating into the vitals of our society. Just as Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion, the post of Director, V&AC should be headed by professionals of sterling reputation.”
Critics argue that often corrupt politicians fear accountability whenever they are questioned or their intentions are doubted. When such politician in question has no political power, they often indulge in violence; if they have power, they rely on the machinery of the state to silence questioning voices or put them behind bars by misusing their authority. It now appears that the TVK government in Tamil Nadu has opted to arrest those who question it, be they social media activists or journalists. Earlier, the DMK silenced critics through the state police; now, the TVK appears to be following the same path by arresting social media activist and influencer YouTuber M. Maridhas.
