The Madras High Court came down heavily on BJP National Secretary H Raja and initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against him for a ‘scandalous remark’ against the judiciary, reported Bar & Bench.
A division bench of Justice CT Selvam and Justice Nirmal Kumar took suo motu contempt action against Raja and issued a notice, ordering him to appear personally before the court within four weeks.
The court reportedly said that his “attempt at creating a dent in this most revered pillar of our democratic system could lead to promotion of fascism, Naxalism and all that is opposed to democracy.”
In a video that surfaced on Saturday, 15 September, a visibly angry Raja could be seen shouting at and abusing two policemen who seemed to be flustered trying to explain something to him.
The incident took place in Pudukkottai district. According to media reports, Raja and his supporters wanted to take out the Vinayaka Chaturthi procession through a communally sensitive area. However, they were denied permission to do so by the police.
Angered by this, Raja went on to allegedly accuse the police of being ‘corrupt’ and ‘anti-Hindu’ which was soon followed by foul language while referring to the Madras High Court.
Alleging that the police in Tamil Nadu are receiving bribes from the Christian missionaries, he also wondered if they are ashamed of themselves after the CBI raided DGP TK Rajendran’s house.
Despite the policemen claiming that they were just following the orders of the Madras High Court, H Raja went on to insult the court once again in public and demanded that a stage be constructed for him to talk.
The video went viral on Saturday, 16 September, sparking outrage from many corners. With many people demanding that he be arrested, Raja on Sunday told the press that it was not his voice in that video and that the audio had been dubbed by someone else. He also added that he has a lot of respect for both the police and the Madras High Court.
An FIR was later registered against H Raja and seven others in the Thirumayam Police Station was in Pudukottai district under sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 153(A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 290 (public nuisance), 294(b) (uttering obscene words at public place), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty), 505(1)(b) (intent to cause fear or alarm to public), 505 (1)(c) (intent to incite any class or community to commit an offence) and 506(1) (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the IPC.
The others who have been booked are Ganesan, Meyyapuram Branch Organizer of Hindu Munnani, Palanivelsamy, State Treasurer of Hindu Munnani, Dindugal District, Sooriya Narayanan, South Zone Spokesmen of RSS, Karpaga Vadivel, Pudukkottai District President of Hindu Munnani, Agni Bala, Sivagangai District Secretary of Hindu Munnani, Ramesh, Sivagangai District Secretary of BJP and Jayam Subramaniam, Thirumayam Union Secretary, BJP.
(With inputs from The News Minute and Bar & Bench)
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