Over a month after a video of BJP National Secretary H Raja abusing the police and judiciary in the state went viral, the leader appeared before the Madras High Court and offered his unconditional apology.
Following this, the case was closed. Appearing before a bench of Justices CT Selvam and Nirmal Kumar who had taken suo motu cognizance of the issue in September, the leader reportedly stated that he had become ‘emotional’. Monday’s apology also means that previous claims by H Raja that the video was ‘dubbed’ now stand nullified.
In the video, an angry H Raja is seen gesturing wildly and screaming at two policemen who were trying to pacify him. The leader was riled up when the police attempted to prevent a Vinayaka Chaturthi procession headed by H Raja from entering a communally sensitive area, where the Madras High Court has banned processions. He is heard abusing both the Tamil Nadu police and the Madras High Court in the video.
H Raja accused the police of being corrupt and of receiving bribes from Christian missionaries. He also abused the Madras High Court using obscene words and told the police that they ought to be ashamed since the CBI raided DGP TK Rajendran’s house. Despite the policemen claiming that they were just following the orders of the Madras High Court, H Raja went on to insult the court once again in public and demanded that a stage be constructed for him to talk.
While Raja was booked for it and an FIR filed at the Thirumayam Police Station in Pudukottai district, the video sparked outrage from many corners, with many people demanding that he be arrested.
Days after the video went viral last month, the bench had called the BJP leader’s remarks ‘scandalous’ and said, “Any attempt at creating a dent in this most revered pillar of our democratic system (judiciary) could lead to promotion of fascism, naxalism, and all that is opposed to democracy.”