The Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) on Monday lodged a police complaint against Tamil Nadu Minister for Milk and Rural Development Rajenthra Bhalaji for criminal intimidation and defamation of its founder actor-politician Kamal Haasan.
In the complaint submitted to Chennai's Commissioner of Police, MNM General Secretary A. Arunachalam alleged that Bhalaji had threatened violence against Kamal by saying that his tongue should be cut for a remark he made at an election rally.
Last week, Kamal reportedly told a rally in a locality dominated by Muslims that "independent India's first extremist was a Hindu - Nathuram Godse".
The comment created a furore across the country and a police complaint was filed in Aravakuruchi against Kamal for trying to create animosity between communities.
The Madras High Court on Monday granted Kamal anticipatory bail in the matter.
The MNM alleged that in an interview to Sun TV Tamil channel, Bhalaji defamed Kamal with baseless allegations of a nexus between his party and the ISIS.
It also alleged that instigated by Bhalaji's call to beat up Kamal, a group of people attempted to attack him in Aravakuruchi constituency in Karur district on May 16. Kamal was asked to cancel his campaigning on May 17.
Kamal had sought the court’s protection following a case filed against him by Hindu Munnani Katchi for his comments on Nathuram Godse. The Karur police had booked the actor on charges of ‘promoting enmity’ for stating that Nathuram Godse, the Hindu man who killed Mahatma Gandhi, was Independent India’s first extremist.
The court has asked Kamal to appear before the Aruvakurichi magistrate within 15 days. The anticipatory bail will be given against a bond surety amount of Rs 10,000. The actor had applied for anticipatory bail on May 16.
On May 14, the MNM party had demanded the dismissal of Minister Bhalaji stating that he had violated the constitutional oath taken by him during his swearing in as a Minister and hence should be sacked.
With IANS inputs