A day after BJP National Secretary H Raja was booked by the police in Pudukottai for allegedly abusing the judiciary and the police, the Madras High Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of his remarks and ordered him to appear in the court within four weeks. The bench headed by Justice CT Selvam and Justice Nirmal Kumar sought an explanation from H Raja for his derogatory remarks against the High Court.
A video of H Raja allegedly verbally abusing the Tamil Nadu police and the Madras High Court went viral on Saturday. An angry H Raja is seen shouting at two policemen who were trying to pacify him. As per media reports, the incident took place in Pudukottai district when the police tried to prevent a Vinayaka Chaturthi procession headed by H Raja from entering a communally sensitive area since the Madras High Court has banned processions there.
Angered by this, H Raja went on to accuse 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 goes on to insult the court once again in public and demanded that a stage be constructed for him to talk.
The video sparked outrage from many corners, with many people demanding that he be arrested. H Raja, on Sunday, told the press that it was not his voice in that video and that the voice had been dubbed by someone else. He also added that he has huge respect for both the police and the Madras High Court.
An FIR was registered on Sunday evening against H Raja and seven others in the Thirumayam Police Station in Pudukottai district under sections 143 (Punishment for unlawful assembly), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 153(A) (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 290 (Punishment for public nuisance), 294(b) (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 505(1)(b) (Committing an offence against public tranquillity), 505 (1)(c) (with intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community) and 506(1) ( Criminal intimidation) of the IPC.