TVK MLA Saravanan moves Madras HC to quash FIR over illegal banners in Chennai
Synopsis
A TVK MLA from Sholinganallur has moved the Madras High Court to have a suo motu FIR — filed over allegedly illegal banners near a Chennai marriage hall — set aside. The Madras HC has cleared the procedural path for the petition to be heard on merits, but has not yet ruled on quashing.
Key Takeaways
Saravanan (also known as P.
Saravana Murthy ) has petitioned the Madras High Court to quash an FIR against him over unauthorised banners in Chennai .
The FIR was registered suo motu on 30 November 2025 by Neelankarai police after a sub-inspector spotted hoardings on K.K.
Road during a routine patrol.
Lakshminarayanan on Monday allowed Saravanan's application for exemption from producing the original FIR copy and directed the Registry to number the main petition.
Police invoked Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959 — carrying up to one year imprisonment or a fine of up to ₹5,000 .
The court has yet to decide on the merits of quashing; the case will be heard in due course.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA ECR P. Saravanan, also known as P. Saravana Murthy, has approached the Madras High Court seeking to quash a criminal case lodged against him over the alleged erection of unauthorised banners in Chennai. The FIR was registered on 30 November 2025 by the Neelankarai police, and the matter came up before the court on Monday, 13 October 2025.
What Happened in Court
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, who handles cases involving Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly, allowed the Sholinganallur legislator's application seeking exemption from producing the original copy of the First Information Report (FIR). The judge also directed the High Court Registry to formally number his main petition, which seeks the quashing of the FIR. Monday's hearing addressed only the procedural application; the court has not yet ruled on whether the FIR should be set aside.
How the FIR Was Registered
The case originated on 30 November 2025 when Sub-Inspector G. Prabhakaran of the Neelankarai police station reportedly spotted unauthorised hoardings in a public space near a private marriage hall on K.K. Road during a routine patrol. The officer subsequently conducted inquiries to determine who had installed the hoardings and whether civic approvals had been obtained.
Following those inquiries, the police alleged that Saravanan and a TVK office-bearer identified as Ravi were responsible for putting up the banners without permission from the Greater Chennai Corporation. On that basis, Sub-Inspector Prabhakaran registered the case suo motu, naming the legislator and the party functionary as accused.
The Legal Provision Invoked
Police have invoked Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959, which prohibits the erection of unauthorised banners and hoardings in public spaces. The provision carries a penalty of imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to ₹5,000, or both.
Notably, the registration of this FIR came on the police's own initiative rather than on a complaint from the public or a civic authority — a procedural detail that Saravanan's defence may cite when the main petition is heard on merits.
What Happens Next
With the procedural hurdle cleared, the Madras High Court Registry has been instructed to process and number the substantive quash petition. The court will consider the merits of Saravanan's request to terminate the criminal proceedings at a subsequent hearing. The outcome could have broader implications for how unauthorised political hoarding cases are pursued against elected representatives in Tamil Nadu.
Point of View
With its modest ₹5,000 maximum fine, raises a legitimate question about prosecutorial proportionality when the accused is a sitting legislator. What the case does expose is the gap between aggressive hoarding enforcement and the political will to reform a practice that has endured across party lines. Whether the Madras HC quashes or upholds the FIR, the outcome is unlikely to deter the wider culture of unsanctioned banner politics in the state.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has TVK MLA P. Saravanan approached the Madras High Court?
P. Saravanan has filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking to quash an FIR registered against him on 30 November 2025 over the alleged erection of unauthorised banners in Chennai. He contends that the criminal proceedings arising from the FIR should be set aside.
What did the Madras High Court order on Monday?
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan allowed Saravanan's procedural application seeking exemption from producing the original FIR copy and directed the High Court Registry to number his main quash petition. The court has not yet decided whether the FIR should actually be quashed.
How was the FIR against the TVK MLA registered?
The FIR was registered suo motu by Sub-Inspector G. Prabhakaran of Neelankarai police on 30 November 2025, after he allegedly noticed unauthorised hoardings near a private marriage hall on K.K. Road during a routine patrol. Inquiries reportedly indicated the banners were put up without permission from the Greater Chennai Corporation.
What law has been invoked against the legislator?
Police have invoked Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959, which prohibits unauthorised banners in public spaces. The provision carries a punishment of up to one year imprisonment, a fine of up to ₹5,000, or both.
What happens next in the case?
With the Registry directed to number the petition, the Madras High Court will take up the substantive question of whether to quash the FIR at a future hearing. No date has been set yet for consideration of the case on its merits.
