TTV Dhinakaran faces arrest after unknown person files FIR with sedition charges against him, 16 others in Salem

AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran faces arrest after a person filed an FIR accusing him and his 16 supporters of sedition under Section 124A a pamphlet for terming the current EK Palaniswamy and O Panneerselvam government in Tamil Nadu, a “killer government. The FIR was filed by one KRS Saravanan in Annadanapatty Police Station in Salem on Monday, media reports said.

TTV Dinakaran charged with sedition for speaking against the state pic.twitter.com/DYhGNoC8J4

— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 2, 2017

Hindustan Times reported about the arrest of former MLA Venkatachalam and local AIADMK functionary Saravanan among the 10 who were booked. According to News 18, the pamphlets said the current EK Palaniswamy and O Panneerselvam government in Tamil Nadu is a “killer government”. The pamphlets, Saravanan said, carried misleading information about medical entrance examination NEET and instigated the people to protest against the government. He also alleged that when he confronted the group, they threatened him. According to India Today, there were no details in the FIR regarding which part of the poster was seditious. Dhinakaran was nowhere in Salem at the time when the pamphlet was distributed. [caption id=“attachment_4039421” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of TTV Dhinakaran. Getty Images[/caption] Section 124-A in the Indian Penal Code says, “Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law in India shall be punished with life imprisonment.” It also mentions that comments that express strong disapproval of “the measures of the government, with a view to obtain their desired modifications by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section”. The Hindustan Times report mentioned how Dhinakaran and his loyalists P Vetrivel, one of the 18 AIADMK MLAs were recently disqualified from the Tamil Nadu Assembly under the anti-defection law, and V Pugazhenthi have also been named as accused in the case, the police said. This is the second time a case was slapped against the AIADMK leader. Earlier, the sidelined Dhinakaran, along with Tamil actor and party functionary Senthil, had been booked for allegedly making defamatory comments against P Kumar, AIADMK MP from Tiruchirappalli. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had prevented the Tiruchirappalli police from arresting them. Earlier, the sidelined Dhinakaran, along with Tamil actor and party functionary Senthil, had been booked for allegedly making defamatory comments against P Kumar, AIADMK MP from Tiruchirappalli. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had prevented the Tiruchirappalli police from arresting them.