Justice MS Ramesh before whom the plea moved by Anoor Jagadeesan, president, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kalagam, came up for hearing, asked the petitioner’s counsel to state the provisions under which the High Court can direct the police to detain a person under the Goondas Act.

Moreover, noting that the petitioner has rushed to the court after filing his complaint on March 7, the judge dismissed the plea stating that the police need time to consider the case. However, the petitioner can approach the court through a fresh petition if there is any inordinate delay in disposing of the said representation by the authorities, Justice Ramesh added. 

Referring to the statement made by Raja in his Facebook account about removal of Dravidar Kazhagam founder Periyar EV Ramasamy’s statues in Tamil Nadu, the petitioner submitted that following Raja’s tweet, the statue of Periyar was damaged by his followers at Tirupattur, Karaikudi and Nagercoil, triggering tension in many parts of the state. 

Also, listing out the protests that had erupted, including demonstrations and burning of Raja’s effigy, the petitioner said the comment prompted violence with youth hurling stones, petrol bombs on the BJP party office at Coimbatore. In some places, the youth indulged in cutting the ‘Poonal’ thread worn by Iyer, Iyengar, Sasthirigal and Progithar community to which Raja belongs, the petitioner added. 

Stating that the act of Raja is prejudicial for the maintenance of law and order and his action augurs his detention as per section 2(a)(iii) of the Goondas Act, he sought the court to direct the state authorities to consider his plea and pass orders to detain Raja.