DMK's Rajya Sabha MP arrested by Chennai cops for offensive remarks against SC/ST

More than three months after he allegedly hurled offensive comments against judges from Scheduled Caste/Tribes, Chennai Police has arrested DMK's Rajya Sabha MP RS Bharathi on Saturday. arrest was done after an FIR against him under Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. As per reports, he was arrested from his residence in Alandur, Chennai. A complaint was filed against him by Kalyan Kumar, Chief of Adi Tamilar Makkal Katchi.

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Bharathi alleges political vendetta

Speaking to reporters on Saturday morning, Bharathi blamed a 'particular group on social media' for campaign against him and alleged that it was 'taken out of context.' He also said that action against him is politically motivated. "Today early morning y came to arrest me. reason for this sudden arrest is that only yesterday (Friday) evening I lodged a complaint against (Deputy Chief Minister) OPS’s (O Panneerselvam) corruption. Even w we are preparing ar complaint about having bought bleaching powder for disinfection activities in Coimbatore for about Rs 200 crore. Somehow y got this information through intelligence (officials) and have arrested me,” he said.

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Derogatory remarks 

On February 15 this year, Bharathi made derogatory remarks against judges and media while speaking at Kalaignar Readers’ Circle event at Anbagam, DMK Youth Wing headquarters in Chennai. He allegedly said: “ Harijan has become judge of High Court in Madhya Pradesh. But in Tamil Nadu, after Kalaignar became Chief Minister, A Varadarajan became first Dalit judge in Madras High Court. After him, around seven or eight from Adi Dravidar community became judges in High Court. This was alms given by Dravidian movement. w again y (Brahmins) are back in court. I am telling you out of angst, Supreme Court has become an RSS centre.”

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In 12-minute long video, which went viral on social media, he also compared media houses with 'red-light districts'. "I am silent because I am in this party post of organising secretary. se journalists don't have a job. y only blame us. Kejriwal used Prashant Kishor, Narendra Modi used him and many ors used him. But y discuss only when DMK is using him and w it has become a debate. I say it openly that se TV journalists are real scoundrels. y run debates like red-light areas in Mumbai. y do anything for money."

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DMK leader had apologised 

However, after his remark went viral, he took to Twitter and said: "I understand that some words I spoke at an event organised by Kalaignar Readers' Circle have hurt sentiments of oppressed persons. I express regret for that. My intention was t to hurt m, but to just highlight good things Kalaignar has done for m."