Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested in Chennai on August 4 over remarks against actor Trisha Krishnan made during a Cauvery water protest the previous day in Thanjavur, according to police and multiple news outlets.
Stalin was taken into custody from his residence after Thanjavur police registered a case based on complaints filed by the Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) party alleging defamatory and offensive remarks about women. The arrest followed an incident at a DMK rally on August 3, where someone in the crowd chanted “Trisha, Trisha,” prompting Stalin to respond with what critics described as a double-meaning innuendo.
TVK filed a complaint with the National Commission for Women, stating that “Udhayanidhi Stalin resorted to offensive, double-meaning remarks and vulgar innuendos targeting a prominent female public figure,” and argued that such language “normalises the objectification and verbal harassment of women in public space,” according to NDTV’s reporting of the complaint.
Stalin, who was seen smiling as police escorted him, characterized the arrest as a “joke” and pledged to “fight it legally,” according to NDTV. The DMK contested the arrest, with party leader TKS Elangovan telling NDTV that “nothing was said against anyone” and that Stalin “didn’t even name Trisha.” TVK leader Americai Narayanan countered that Stalin was arrested for insulting a woman, not for political speech.
The BJP also weighed in, with Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy calling Stalin’s remarks “disgusting, obscene, vulgar, and shameful” and demanding his arrest, according to search results from multiple outlets covering the incident.
A Pattern of Controversial Remarks
This arrest is not Stalin’s first legal entanglement over inflammatory speech. In September 2023, Stalin sparked a major political row by calling for the “eradication of Sanatan Dharma,” linking it to “malaria” and “dengue,” according to India Today. The remarks triggered multiple cases and complaints across states. In May 2026, the Madras High Court’s Madurai bench ruled that Stalin’s 2023 remarks on Sanatan Dharma amounted to hate speech, according to reporting on the court’s decision. Stalin refused to apologize, telling media in October 2024 that he would not apologize for his comments on “annihilating” Sanatan Dharma, per the Deccan Herald.
The Supreme Court has also intervened in Stalin’s speech controversies. In March 2025, the Supreme Court ordered that no fresh cases should be registered against Stalin over his Sanatan Dharma remarks, according to the Hindustan Times. However, that order has not prevented the current arrest, which stems from the Trisha remarks rather than the earlier religious speech.
Stalin’s comments about women and political rivals have drawn particular scrutiny. According to The South First, Stalin has a history of making remarks targeting women and rivals’ personal lives, with both his Sanatan Dharma statements and recent comments about Trisha fitting into a broader pattern. The Trisha remarks also reflect a recurring theme in Tamil Nadu politics: since rumors of a relationship between CM Vijay and Trisha surfaced, political figures from multiple parties have felt free to comment on it. Earlier this year, TN BJP leader Nainar Nagendran remarked that Vijay should “come out of Trisha’s house” before entering politics, prompting a response from her legal team, according to NDTV.
Sources
- NDTV — confirmed arrest details, Stalin’s statement calling it a “joke,” DMK and TVK responses, and history of remarks about Trisha
- The Federal — arrest from Chennai residence, Thanjavur police case registration, TVK complaint details
- India Today — 2023 Sanatan Dharma remarks comparing it to malaria and dengue
- Deccan Herald — Stalin’s refusal to apologize for Sanatan Dharma comments
- Hindustan Times — Supreme Court order in March 2025 against fresh FIRs in Sanatan Dharma case
- The South First — pattern of Stalin’s remarks on women and rivals’ personal lives
