Former Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, after his arrest for an alleged "double-meaning" remark alluding to popular actor Trisha, in Chennai, Tuesday, August 4. PTI
LIVE | ‘Treated like a terrorist’: Udhayanidhi Stalin slams TVK govt after release
DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested from his Chennai residence after Thanjavur police registered a case over an alleged remark referencing actress Trisha Krishnan
Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested from his residence in Neelankarai, Chennai, by a team of Thanjavur police personnel on Tuesday (August 4) morning. He is being taken to Thanjavur for interrogation in connection with a case registered over alleged derogatory remarks made during a farmers’ protest the previous day.
The arrest follows the registration of a case at the Thanjavur East Police Station based on a complaint by the organiser of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) women’s wing. The FIR invokes sections related to harassment of women, hate speech, the Information Technology Act, and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The controversy stems from a DMK-organised demonstration near the Panagal Building in Thanjavur on Monday (August 3), led by Udhayanidhi. The protest highlighted the ongoing Cauvery water crisis, the dry state of delta rivers during the Aadi Perukku festival, delayed water release from the Mettur Dam affecting Kuruvai cultivation, shortfalls against Cauvery Water Management Authority allocations, opposition to Karnataka’s Mekedatu project, and demands for drought declaration with relief of Rs 25,000 per acre for farmers.
What happened at Thanjavur protest?
Addressing the gathering, Udhayanidhi sharply criticised Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, calling him an “administratively incompetent dummy chief minister”. He accused the TVK government of running the state through reels and memes, remaining silent on the Mekedatu issue, failing to support Tamil Nadu farmers arrested in Maharashtra while en route to a Delhi protest, and neglecting genuine agrarian concerns.
During the speech, sections of the crowd began chanting “Trisha, Trisha”, referring to actress Trisha Krishnan amid social media speculation linking her to the chief minister. Udhayanidhi paused, smirked, and made a double-entendre remark involving “water” in the context of the Cauvery shortfall and the actress’s name.
Former Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu later clarified that he was referring to the river, but the video clips went viral, drawing widespread criticism for being vulgar and inappropriate. Mainstream reports described the Tamil phrasing as having a double meaning without quoting it directly.
Anticipatory bail plea hearing today
While being taken into custody, Udhayanidhi claimed the case was fabricated through “copy-paste” methods, alleging he was being prosecuted for remarks he never made. “I see this arrest action as a comedy,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the Madras High Court agreed to hear in the afternoon an urgent anticipatory bail petition to be filed by Udhayanidhi. A High Court judge had also directed that no arrest action be taken against him until 12 noon. DMK legal teams had moved the court seeking protection from arrest. Despite this, the police proceeded with the action.
Follow LIVE updates below.
Live Updates
- 4 Aug 2026 9:47 PM IST
'They treated me like a terrorist': Udhayanidhi Stalin after release
Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday accused the ruling TVK government of treating him “like a terrorist” after he was released in connection with a case over his alleged remarks at a public meeting. The complainants alleged that the remarks referred to actor Trisha, who is considered a close friend and confidante of Chief Minister Vijay.
Speaking to reporters after his release, Udhayanidhi said the police action contradicted the stand taken by the Tamil Nadu government before the Madras High Court, where its counsel had stated that there was no intention to arrest him.
“In court, the government lawyer said they had no intention of arresting me. But under the guise of questioning me, they deployed nearly 3,000 police personnel, spent public money, and took me by road from Chennai to Thanjavur as though I were a terrorist,” he said.
Udhayanidhi also alleged that he was not treated properly during the process. Instead of being taken directly to Thanjavur, he said he was first brought to Sengipatti Police Station, where he was questioned for several hours before being released on station bail.
- 4 Aug 2026 8:29 PM IST
Udhayanidhi leaves Sengipatti Police Station
Udhayanidhi Stalin leaves Sengipatti Police Station. He was questioned for one hour by the police.
- 4 Aug 2026 8:12 PM IST
DMK slams 'autocratic way' of TVK govt ahead of Budget session
On Udhayanidhi Stalin's arrest, DMK MP Kalanidhi Veeraswamy told PTI, "This is an autocratic way of handling things. They wanted to ensure that the Leader of the Opposition does not attend the Budget Session starting tomorrow."
- 4 Aug 2026 8:11 PM IST
Tamilisai hits out at DMK
On Udhayanidhi Stalin's arrest, BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan told ANI, "We strongly condemn the derogatory words of Udhayanidhi Stalin against womenhood, humiliating women celebrities. This is the pattern of DMK, this is in the gene of DMK, in the legacy of DMK...Apart from that, they want to create confusion in Tamil Nadu. They wanted to take political mileage about this, when Udhayanidhi was arrested, he behaved as if he has been arrested for a very good cause, as a freedom fighter. Is humiliating women a joke for him? This shows the dirty mindset of Udhayanidhi, and DMK cadres and MPs defending Udhayanidhi. Apart from that, DMK chief Stalin says that Udhayanidhi did not utter anything against womenhood. It was very clear in the live programme that they were not bothered about Cauvery, they were bothered only about Trisha...Whoever talks against women should be punished..."
- 4 Aug 2026 8:04 PM IST
DMK MP Wilson: 'TVK government distorted Udhayanidhi's speech'
On the arrest of Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK MP P Wilson told ANI, “The complaint distorts the speech of Udhayanidhi. It was, in fact, for the benefit of the people of Tamil Nadu that a big agitation was held yesterday. The government was very upset with this agitation as the cadres were pouring in and a large number of people had assembled… The TVK government has miserably failed even to enforce the directions of the Supreme Court and to secure the 3,500 cusecs of water ordered by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). All these illegalities, irregularities, and shortcomings were pointed out by Udhayanidhi. Therefore, the government distorted his speech yesterday. They planted it in the news media and made it appear as if Udhayanidhi had made comments against Chief Minister Vijay.”
- 4 Aug 2026 6:49 PM IST
Udhayanidhi greets waiting DMK cadres in Sengipatti
Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin stepped out of the police vehicle and acknowledged the DMK cadre gathered outside the Sengipatti Police Station on Tuesday with a wave.
- 4 Aug 2026 6:47 PM IST
DMK workers gather outside Sengipatti police station
A large number of DMK workers gathered outside the Sengipatti Police Station in Thanjavur district after Udhayanidhi Stalin was brought there for questioning, stated local media reports.
- 4 Aug 2026 6:45 PM IST
Udhayanidhi shifted to Sengipatti police station for questioning
Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin has reportedly arrived in Thanjavur and is being taken to the Sengipatti Police Station for questioning.
According to media reports, police moved him there, about 21 kilometres from the Thanjavur South Police Station, after a large crowd gathered outside the latter. Udhayanidhi is said to have refused to step out of the vehicle, contending that Sengipatti was not the police station identified before the court.
- 4 Aug 2026 5:00 PM IST
TN Minister Nirmal Kumar says Udhayanidhi 'unfit' to hold public office
Condemning the alleged controversial remarks made by Udhayanidhi Stalin, Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister R Nirmal Kumar on Tuesday questioned the former Deputy Chief Minister's fundamental eligibility to hold public office.
Addressing the media in Chennai, Kumar stated that the mindset displayed by the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly is "completely unacceptable" for public office. "He doesn't even have the basic fitness to serve as a Member of the Legislative Assembly or the Leader of the Opposition. Such a mindset is completely unacceptable for public office," Kumar asserted.
He further emphasised the broader social implications of such remarks made by prominent figures. "When a Leader of the Opposition, not just an ordinary person, speaks so vulgarly in a public forum, what kind of impact will this have?" Kumar asked, demanding immediate and strict legal action. "Whoever speaks vulgarly against women in public must face legal consequences. The police should arrest them immediately," he added.
- 4 Aug 2026 4:52 PM IST
MK Stalin hits out at TVK govt: 'Arrogance leads to destruction'
DMK chief MK Stalin on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the TVK government, accusing it of "arrogance" and hit out at the alleged high-handedness in the arrest of former Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin over his alleged controversial remarks.
In a strongly worded statement, Stalin warned that "arrogance leads to destruction, and continuous arrogance will accelerate destruction", while demanding the immediate release of all DMK cadres detained across the state.
Stalin alleged that police "arrogantly" took custody of Udhayanidhi from his Chennai residence and transported him to Thanjavur "under non-bailable charges to prevent him from attending the upcoming Assembly budget session". He claimed that the government tried to cover up its setback in court after public outrage forced its lawyers to state that there was no intention to formally arrest him.
Terming the Madras High Court's order directing Udhayanidhi's immediate release a "blow to TVK's fascist nature", Stalin asserted that Chief Minister Vijay has focused solely on arresting critics -- including MLAs Anitha Radhakrishnan and Markandeyan, anti-NEET protesters, and farmers -- while functioning merely as a "reels creator" rather than fulfilling electoral promises.
Defending Udhayanidhi's protest speech, the DMK chief clarified that the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly did not use obscene language or target anyone specifically, urging other political figures to verify facts before offering condemnations.
"The TVK government must immediately release all DMK cadres arrested across Tamil Nadu for participating in the protests," Stalin demanded, reiterating that the massive turnout in Thanjavur reflected widespread public anger against the administration.
