Udhayanidhi Stalin was released on station bail on August 4, 2026, after his Chennai arrest, a 300-km journey to Thanjavur district and questioning over remarks made during a Cauvery protest.
Udhayanidhi Stalin Arrested at Chennai Residence
Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested at his Neelankarai residence at about 11 a.m. after a nearly three-hour standoff. Police acted over allegedly derogatory remarks directed at Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and an actress during a DMK protest in Thanjavur on August 3. The Madras High Court had orally observed that no action should be taken until the matter was heard at noon, but officers proceeded with the arrest and transported him to Thanjavur for investigation.
Nine Provisions Invoked in Thanjavur Case
The Thanjavur East police registered the case following a complaint from Bairavi Shankar Raman, a TVK district women’s wing organiser. Udhayanidhi was booked under nine provisions, including BNS sections concerning promoting enmity, provoking a riot, intentional insult, insulting a woman’s modesty and obscenity. The Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act were also invoked. Police initially planned to question him at Thanjavur South station but shifted the venue to Sengipatti after DMK supporters gathered.
Madras High Court Limits Detention
Udhayanidhi reached Sengipatti police station at around 6.45 p.m., where Thanjavur East inspector K. Manikandan questioned him in the presence of senior officers. During proceedings on his anticipatory bail plea, the Tamil Nadu government told the Madras High Court that it did not intend to remand him and would release him on station bail after questioning. The court directed that his detention should not be prolonged and asked him to cooperate with the investigation. He was released later that night.
DMK Alleges Political Diversion
After his release, Udhayanidhi denied making a double-meaning remark and said his speech focused on farmers and the demand for Cauvery water. He alleged that part of the address had been manipulated and described the case as a diversion from the water-sharing dispute. The arrest triggered protests by DMK workers across Tamil Nadu, while critics from other parties condemned the alleged remarks even as some questioned the haste and manner of the police action.
