CHENNAI: Tamil comedian Vadivelu’s maiden political speech at the DMK’s election campaign launch at Tiruvarur, where he targeted his bete noire Vijaykanth, landed him in trouble. The police have filed an FIR against the actor for launching a verbal tirade against Vijaykanth that allegedly went a bit too far. This was after DMDK functionaries knocked at the doors of the Election Commission seeking action for his ‘slanderous’ speech.
“We directed the petition to the Collector of Tiruvarur a couple of days back,” Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar said.
According to P Selvam, Inspector of Tiruvarur Town police station, a high-level committee member of DMDK, Dilip Kumar, filed a petition with the EC, taking exceptions to Vadivelu’s use of language while referring to Vijaykanth, which was a violation of law. The petitioner had also pointed out that the telecast of his speech had further created embarrassment. “The Collector has sent us the petition that was referred by the Election Commission recommending three IPC sections that the actor could be booked under.”
The IPC sections are: 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), 171G (False statement in connection with an election) and 505 (2) (Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes).