The Supreme Court on Monday said it would take up in 2026 the plea filed by Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin seeking to club and transfer to one court all FIRs and complaints lodged against him over his controversial remarks on Sanatan Dharma in 2023.
The matter came up before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Stalin, told the court that several FIRs and complaints had been registered in different states over his speech. However, citing lack of time, the bench posted the hearing for 2026.
Earlier, on March 6, the apex court had directed that no new FIRs should be filed against Stalin without its permission, after being informed that a fresh case had been registered against him in Bihar.
In September 2023, while addressing an event, Stalin had said that Sanatan Dharma was against social justice and equality and should be “eradicated.” He reportedly compared it to coronavirus, malaria, and dengue, saying it must be “destroyed.”
Meanwhile, in a separate case, Madurai-based lawyer Henry Tiphagne has filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against the Tamil Nadu government for allegedly violating the Prakash Singh guidelines by appointing an in-charge Director General of Police (DGP).
Tiphagne argued that despite knowing about the upcoming vacancy on August 31, the state failed to send its proposal to the UPSC three months in advance for empanelment, as mandated by the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling. Sources said the contempt plea is likely to be heard within a week.
