Overview

• Justice Anand Venkatesh directed Tamil Nadu police to register a single FIR against Forest Minister K. Ponmudy by April 23, citing his offensive public speech.
• The remarks, made on April 6, compared religious symbols of Saivism and Vaishnavism to sexual positions, provoking backlash from opposition and DMK members alike.
• The court emphasized that hate speech laws must apply equally to ministers, rejecting Ponmudy's apology as insufficient to dismiss the matter.
• Chief Minister M.K. Stalin removed Ponmudy from his party post as DMK deputy general secretary on April 11, but he remains a minister in the Tamil Nadu cabinet.
• The judge noted that the video of Ponmudy’s speech remains publicly accessible and called for prompt police action to prevent further escalation.