Court issues non-bailable warrant against former minister K. Ponmudi
A special court in Chennai has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former Tamil Nadu minister K. Ponmudi in connection with a case relating to his alleged remarks on Shaivism, Vaishnavism and women.
The case originates from a speech delivered by Ponmudi during a Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam event in April 2025. The comments drew criticism from several quarters and eventually led to his removal from the state cabinet.
Following the speech, Chennai Corporation councillor Uma Anandan filed a private complaint alleging that the remarks hurt religious sentiments and amounted to hate speech. The matter was later transferred to the Georgetown Court, which handles criminal cases involving legislators.
Ponmudi had earlier sought to quash the proceedings before the Madras High Court, but his petition was dismissed in July.
During the latest hearing, the court rejected his request for exemption from personal appearance and directed the police to secure his presence before September 2, the next date of hearing.