Non-bailable warrant issued against former Minister K. Ponmudy
A non-bailable warrant has been issued for former Minister K. Ponmudy for failing to appear in a hate speech trial.
He failed to appear for the trial proceedings in a case registered against him for allegedly making a speech that promoted hatred against the Hindu religion
Published - August 06, 2026 07:50 pm IST - CHENNAI
A city court has issued a non-bailable warrant against former Minister and DMK leader K. Ponmudy, directing the police to arrest him and produce him before the court on September 2, after he failed to appear for the trial proceedings in a case registered against him for allegedly making a speech that promoted hatred against the Hindu religion.
The case was registered following a complaint by BJP councillor Uma Anandan. The complainant alleged that a speech delivered by Mr. Ponmudy on April 6, 2025, promoted hatred against the Hindu religion and hurt religious sentiments. Though the speech was delivered at a closed-door event, it was later uploaded on YouTube and other social media platforms.
Mr. Ponmudy delivered the speech at the DMK Youth Wing office in Chennai and reportedly spoke about Saivism and Vaishnavism. Following the controversy over his remarks, the DMK removed him from the post of deputy general secretary of the party on April 11, 2025.
Mr. Ponmudy was booked under Sections 196(1)(a) (promoting disharmony, enmity or hatred on religious grounds), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 302 (uttering words or making gestures with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case is pending before the III Metropolitan Magistrate Court in George Town.
When the matter came up for hearing before Magistrate C. Sundarapandian at the George Town court on Thursday, a petition was filed on behalf of Mr. Ponmudy seeking exemption from personal appearance. The court dismissed the plea.
As Mr. Ponmudy had failed to appear for the hearings, the court issued a non-bailable warrant and directed the police to arrest him and produce him before the court on or before September 2.
Published - August 06, 2026 07:50 pm IST
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