Chennai, October 7: A retired police officer, Varadarajan, was arrested by Chennai’s South Cyber Crime Police for allegedly making defamatory comments on social media about Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy of the Madras High Court. The judge is overseeing the judicial investigation into the tragic Karur stampede, which claimed 41 lives during actor-politician Vijay’s political roadshow.
The incident occurred on September 27 at Veluchamipuram, where a massive crowd gathered for Vijay’s first major political rally after launching his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Despite the venue’s limited capacity of a few thousand, it was reported that nearly 30,000 supporters turned up, leading to chaos and a fatal stampede.
In response to the tragedy, Tamil Nadu Police ramped up efforts to combat the spread of rumors and inflammatory content related to the incident. Several individuals, including prominent YouTubers Felix Gerald and Maridhas, have faced action for allegedly disrupting public order with misinformation. While Gerald was not remanded in custody, Maridhas was questioned and released with the condition of further inquiry if needed.
Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, who is overseeing the case, had earlier directed the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by North Zone Inspector General Asra Garg to probe the circumstances surrounding the disaster. In a recent hearing, the judge made critical remarks regarding the event’s political leadership, indirectly referring to TVK’s top figures, including Vijay. He expressed concerns about their inability to manage an event of such magnitude effectively.
The judge’s comments sparked online debate, with some netizens praising his frankness, while others launched hostile campaigns against him. In response to the backlash, Justice Ramamoorthy calmly remarked, “Judges are used to criticism, and we accept it with a smile.”
Varadarajan, who leads a small political party, Netaji Makkal Katchi, and frequently posts political commentary videos, was accused of personally attacking the judge over his remarks. Based on complaints and digital evidence, cybercrime officers arrested him. Authorities have indicated that this action is part of a broader initiative to curb hate campaigns and ensure that public discourse remains within lawful boundaries while the sensitive investigation continues.
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