The Madras High Court has stayed all further proceedings in a criminal case filed against K. Annamalai, the former State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in connection with his alleged provocative remarks concerning the revered political leader and freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar.
The High Court’s decision came on Monday, April 20, 2026, as Justice M. Nirmal Kumar admitted a petition filed by Annamalai seeking to quash the case. The court has also dispensed with Annamalai’s personal appearance before the trial court.
The case against Annamalai stemmed from a complaint filed by V. Piyush of Salem. It pertained to statements allegedly made by Annamalai during a press conference, where he attributed a speech from 1956 to Muthuramalinga Thevar. According to the complaint, Annamalai quoted Thevar as having stated, “If non-believers speak of believer’s faith, Madurai Meenakshi, who receives milk abhishekam, shall receive blood abhishekam.” Piyush contended that Thevar never made such a statement and that even if the remark was authentic, it constituted a threatening and provocative act.
Based on Piyush’s complaint, the Judicial Magistrate IV court in Salem had taken cognisance against Annamalai for offences under Sections 153A and 505(1)(c) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Consequently, summons were issued to the BJP leader. Annamalai subsequently approached the High Court to challenge these proceedings, arguing that the Magistrate’s order was against the law as he was not afforded an opportunity to be heard before cognizance was taken.
Senior Advocate Paul Kanagaraj, representing Annamalai, argued before the High Court that the Magistrate’s order was legally flawed. He emphasized that as per Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a Magistrate should provide an opportunity to the accused before taking cognizance, a procedural step that was allegedly not followed in this instance. It was also submitted that no affidavit was filed along with the complaint, and the only affidavit presented was for the appointment of an Advocate Commissioner.
Annamalai’s plea further argued that the private complaint was an abuse of the legal process, filed with the intention of gaining political mileage. His legal team contended that the complaint was defective and legally unsustainable, asserting that even when taken at face value, it did not disclose any offence. It was also highlighted that Annamalai had previously stated that the complainant had twisted an interview he had given to a YouTube channel in October 2022, which had been watched by approximately 60,000 people without any reported objections from the Christian community or disturbance to public tranquility.
This is not the first instance of Annamalai facing legal challenges related to his public statements. In a separate case from December 2, 2023, the Madras High Court had stayed defamation proceedings against him initiated by the same complainant, V. Piyush. At that time, the court noted that the complainant’s locus standi was not clearly established in the complaint, leading to a stay on further proceedings.
Another defamation case involved a complaint filed by DMK MP TR Baalu against Annamalai concerning allegations made in the “DMK files” released by the BJP leader. Annamalai appeared before the court in Chennai in July 2025 in this matter, where further hearing was scheduled for August 28. Baalu had alleged that Annamalai’s statements were false, defamatory, and intended to harm his reputation.
Additionally, in July 2024, Annamalai filed a defamation case against DMK organizing secretary RS Bharathi. This action was taken after Bharathi allegedly linked Annamalai to the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy. Annamalai sought ₹1 crore in compensation for the remarks, stating the funds would be used to establish a de-addiction centre.
The legal proceedings involving K. Annamalai underscore the sensitive nature of political discourse and the legal recourse available when statements are perceived as defamatory or provocative, particularly when referencing historical figures and religious sentiments.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
