The Madras High Court has dismissed a private complaint accusing Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan of making hate speech targeted at Indian women, specifically Hindu women, during an online conference in 2020. The ruling was delivered by Justice P Velmurugan, who found the allegations unsubstantiated.
The complaint, initially filed in the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate Court, Peraiyur, Madurai District, was directed against Thirumavalavan’s comments, which were broadcasted on a YouTube channel. It claimed that his remarks constituted hate speech. However, upon thorough examination, Justice Velmurugan concluded that the VCK leader’s references were primarily about the ancient text “Manu Smriti” and did not specifically target any community.
In his detailed order, Justice Velmurugan noted, “On a reading of the entire material available on record, it was conspicuously clear that the petitioner had referred to the book ‘Manu Smriti’. He spoke about the same, and therefore, this Court finds that the allegations made against the petitioner do not attract the offence(s) under the IPC and Information Technology Act.”
The judge further clarified that there was no evidence suggesting that Thirumavalavan’s speech had incited any negative actions or responses, and no specific derogatory content from “Manu Smriti” was cited in his speech. He emphasized, “The petitioner has not committed any of the offences alleged against him, as referred to in the private complaint.”
