Madras High Court Directs State Government to Respond to Plea Against Minister's Social Media Post
The Madras High Court has taken a significant step in a case involving a controversial social media post by a state minister. On Wednesday, the court sought an official response from the Tamil Nadu government regarding a petition filed by an advocate. The plea specifically requests directions to the Tuticorin district police to take appropriate legal action against Minister for Milk and Dairy Development, Mano Thangaraj.
Petition Details and Court Proceedings
Justice S. Srimathy presided over the hearing and issued a directive for the state to file a counter affidavit. The petition was submitted by M. Neethipandian, who serves as the district head of the BJP advocates team for Tuticorin North. The core of the petition revolves around a Facebook post allegedly made by Minister Thangaraj.
The petitioner claims that the post contained a fabricated and morphed video, approximately three minutes in length, which falsely linked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the notorious 'Epstein Files'. According to the petitioner, this content was not only patently false but also malicious and defamatory in nature. He emphasized that independent fact-checking organizations have thoroughly debunked these claims, categorizing them as 100% fabricated with no evidentiary basis whatsoever.
Legal Grounds and Police Inaction
Neethipandian argued that the social media post disclosed a cognisable offence, prompting him to lodge a formal complaint with the Kovilpatti West police station against Minister Thangaraj. The complaint was comprehensive, including complete evidence such as a Facebook screenshot with a timestamp and a direct video link. Despite submitting this evidence, the police failed to register a First Information Report (FIR), which the petitioner alleges is a wilful violation of their mandatory statutory duty.
Consequently, the petitioner approached the High Court seeking judicial intervention. The plea specifically requests a direction to the Kovilpatti West police to take appropriate action based on the complaint. Additionally, it seeks authorization to obtain necessary sanction from the chief secretary if required for proceeding against the minister.
Adjournment and Future Hearing
The hearing in this case has been adjourned to March 12, allowing time for the state government to prepare and submit its counter affidavit. This development highlights the ongoing legal scrutiny of social media content and the responsibilities of public officials in maintaining factual integrity online. The case underscores the intersection of digital communication, defamation law, and political accountability in contemporary India.
