The Tamil Nadu DGP informed the Supreme Court that criminal cases have been registered against protesters for allegedly making caste and religion-based defamatory remarks against Justice G R Swaminathan. The action follows the Madras High Court judge’s order allowing the lighting of Karthigai Deepam on Thirupparankundram hill.
The Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) has informed the Supreme Court that the State police have already taken necessary action and registered criminal cases against persons who allegedly made caste- and religion-based defamatory remarks against Justice G R Swaminathan of the Madras High Court.
These alleged remarks were made after Justice Swaminathan passed an order allowing the lighting of the traditional ‘Karthigai Deepam’ oil lamp on the Thirupparankundram hill in Madurai.
In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, Tamil Nadu DGP G Venkataraman stated that clear instructions have been issued to all Superintendents of Police across districts and to other senior police officials to ensure strict action in such matters.
He further assured the court that no book or material containing objectionable pictorial representations, statements, caricatures, or any content that tends to scandalise the Court or a Judge will be permitted to be published or circulated.
“It is humbly submitted that the Greater Chennai Police has taken necessary action regarding the petitioner’s allegations concerning the sit circulation of defamatory, derogatory, abusive and scandalous posts on social media platforms, including X, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and other digital forums.”
The DGP further informed the Supreme Court that the Cyber Crime Cell of the Central Crime Branch under the Greater Chennai Police has acted promptly on the complaint. According to the affidavit, the Cyber Crime Cell assigned appropriate current numbers to the petition and immediately began monitoring social media platforms.
“The Cyber Crime Cell under the Central Crime Branch of Greater Chennai Police has promptly taken action and assigned appropriate current numbers to the petition. Since the petition has not provided details of social media posts and handles alleged to have posted objectionable remarks, immediately, action was taken by the Cyber Crime Cell by checking the social media for the said objectionable posts/contents and accordingly identified 9 social media handles on X , Facebook, Youtube and other platforms,”
The affidavit was filed in response to a petition moved by advocate G S Mani. In his plea, Mani alleged that ruling DMK-supported political parties, including communist parties, along with certain individuals and lawyers, carried out illegal protests in public places as well as inside the premises of the Madras High Court at Chennai and Madurai. He claimed that during these protests, highly contemptuous, defamatory, and abusive remarks were made against Justice Swaminathan.
The DGP’s reply further stated that the Cyber Crime Cell of the Greater Chennai Police has already taken steps to ensure removal of the offensive content from social media platforms.
The affidavit mentioned that on January 22, a formal requisition was sent to the nodal officers of the concerned social media intermediaries. The police sought removal of the objectionable content, blocking of impersonating accounts, preservation of original URLs, and disclosure of the identity details of the social media handles for taking legal action as per law.
However, the DGP also informed the Supreme Court that replies from the concerned social media platforms are still awaited in this regard.
Earlier, on January 28, the Supreme Court had issued notices to the Tamil Nadu State Government, the Director General of Police, the Chennai Commissioner of Police, and other concerned authorities on the plea filed by advocate Mani. The apex court directed the State Government to file a detailed status report and listed the matter for further hearing on February 2.
The plea before the Supreme Court alleged that the “caste and religion-based defamatory remarks” were made with a deliberate intention to disturb social harmony and provoke communal tension and law and order problems in the State.
The petition sought strict directions from the Supreme Court to the Tamil Nadu Government and police authorities to initiate strong legal action, including criminal proceedings, against all persons responsible for making such remarks and organising the protests.
The controversy arose from an order passed by Justice G R Swaminathan on December 1, 2025. The judge allowed writ petitions seeking directions for proper arrangements to light the traditional Karthigai Deepam at the ‘Dheepathoon’, a stone lamp pillar situated on the Thiruparankundram hillock, which is located close to a dargah.
“By lighting the lamp at Deepathoon, which is meant for that purpose, the structure of the Dargha is not in any way affected and the Dargha is located at a safe distance of not less than 50 metres away from the stone pillar,”
As the order was not implemented by the authorities, Justice Swaminathan passed a subsequent order on December 3. In this order, he permitted devotees themselves to light the lamp and directed the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to ensure their protection during the process.
Following this development, the Tamil Nadu Government approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s directions, leading to the present proceedings.
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