In a major setback to actress Kasturi Shankar, who has been absconding from police arrest in Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court on Thursday denied anticipatory bail.
A single bench of Justice Anand Venkatesh dismissed the anticipatory bail plea filed by the actress, who is apprehending arrest in a case registered by the Thirunagar police in Madurai.
Her petition was submitted in connection with the case filed against her by the Madurai police for her objectionable remarks on the Telugu-speaking community living in Tamil Nadu. The Judge during the case hearing on Tuesday, observed that it was unwarranted of Kasturi to make such controversial remarks.
Speaking at a Brahmin meet in Chennai on November 3rd, the actress had purportedly made comments against the Telugu community suggesting that the Telugu people, who had come to serve the courtesans of the Tamil Kings were now claiming to be of Tamil race.
After widespread backlash, Kasthuri issued an apology stating that her comments were specific to some individuals and not against the Telugu community. She had moved the court apprehending arrest based on a complaint filed by the Naidu Mahajana Sangam State Executive Committee member.
Based on the complaint, the Thirunagar Police had registered a complaint for alleged offences under Section 196(1)(a), 197(1)(c), 296(b), 352, and 353(3) of BNS along with Section 67 of the IT Act.
While hearing the anticipatory bail plea on Tuesday, the court had said that Kasthuri, who claimed to be a political commentator, should not have made such comments even in the heat of the moment. The judge added that Kasthuri’s apology does not address the comments made against the women.
In her plea, Kasthuri stated that the de facto complaint was filed upon instigation by the ruling party and that this intolerant and vindictive attitude of the State administration was highly atrocious.
Kasthuri also pointed out that no riot or provocation had happened among any members of the society in light of the speech and contrarily, she had been receiving great support from the different quarters of the Telugu people across the state of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Opposing the bail, the Additional Public Prosecutor argued that the comments were made with a malicious intent. He also submitted that when the state of Tamil Nadu was already having tumultuous relationships with the neighbouring states of Kerala and Karnataka, if such speech is allowed, it would affect the harmony of the State with the remaining neighbouring states also.
