CHENNAI: If Tamil Nadu police fail to conduct an investigation against former minister K Ponmudy for his derogatory speeches against Vaishnavites, Shaivites and women, the cases would be transferred to CBI, the Madras High Court warned on Friday.
Justice P Velmurugan, who holds the portfolio of MP/MLA cases, made the observations while hearing a case initiated suo motu by Justice Anand Venkatesh in April after videos of Ponmudy, the then forest minister, making the alleged hate speech began circulating.
Advocate General PS Raman informed the court that after the case was taken up suo motu, three complaints received against the minister were investigated and closed as it was found that the charges of hate speech were not made out.
Thereafter, 112 complaints have been received which are being looked into, Raman said, adding Ponmudy had only spoken about events that had occurred 60 years ago.
If the state police had any hesitation in probing those complaints, Justice Velmurugan said the court would transfer them to CBI. Cautioning ministers, the judge said free speech existed with reasonable restrictions. He adjourned the hearing to July 8.