Publisher Badri Seshadri Arrested In Tamil Nadu Over His Alleged Remarks On Manipur Violence Against CJI Chandrachud

Prominent Political Commentator and Publisher in Tamil Nadu, Badri Seshadri has been arrested after an FIR was lodged against him for his remarks on Manipur violence against Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. 

In an interview published on Youtube Badri reportedly said, “Yesterday, the Supreme Court like a big…. I don’t know what word to say. ‘If you can’t do it (contain the violence), we will get down and do it.’ We should give a gun in the hand of Chandrachud (Chief Justice of India) and ask him to go there and do what he can to restore peace. Simply, talking anything without relation. Can you (judiciary) enter into the realm of governance? What fault did you find in what is being done [by the government] there [to restore normalcy]? Two groups are fighting. It is a hilly terrain. A complex land. In that, a few murders will happen. Why did they fight? Could we have prevented the reason for the two groups fighting? It can’t be done easily.”

The 58 year old Badri Seshadri is the founder of the leading publishing house in Tamil Nadu, Kizhakku Pathippagam. Pursuant to a complaint by one Advocate Kaviyarasu, the Kunnam Police Station in Perambalur District registered an FIR against him under Sections 153, 153 A (1) (a) and 505 (1) (b) of the IPC. Pursuant to the FIR, Badri was arrested at around 5 am today. 

The complainant has told the media, "Criticizing the Supreme Court's stand on the matter, Badri reportedly asked if a gun could be placed in CJI’s hands and he will be able to ensure peace. He also tarnishes the dignity of the Supreme Court and the country's judiciary."

Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai has condemned the arrest and said on Twitter that the government was resorting to arrests in order to combat the opinions put out by common people. He asked if arresting people whom the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government wanted to take revenge against was the only job of the Tamil Nadu police.

On July 20, CJI Chandrachud lead Bench had suo moto taken note of the viral video of two women being paraded naked in Manipur and the CJI had remarked that the Court will have to step in if no action is taken by the government. The matter was then listed on July 28 before the Bench led by the CJI, but was not considered since the CJI did not preside on that day.  Badri Seshadri has now commented on this remark of CJI Chandrachud, asking how the Court can restore peace and maintain law and order. 

"This is grossest of Constitutional and Human Rights violations. We will give a little time to the government to act, else we will take action if nothing is happening on the ground", the CJI had remarked. 

The matters relating to Manipur violence are now listed before the Bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on July 31.