The Madras High Court on Tuesday, 4 August directed the Thanjavur police to complete questioning and release Udhayanidhi Stalin — Leader of the Opposition and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Youth Wing Secretary — the same day, following his arrest over alleged derogatory remarks targeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. The court's intervention came hours after DMK moved for urgent relief against the arrest.

Background: Protest, Speech, and the FIR

The sequence began on Monday when Udhayanidhi Stalin led a protest outside the Panagal Building in Thanjavur, condemning both the Centre and the state government over the Cauvery water dispute and demanding that delta districts be declared drought-affected. The demonstration was linked to the Mekedatu dam controversy.

During his address, Udhayanidhi allegedly made remarks against Chief Minister Vijay that drew sharp criticism from ministers of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Bhairavi, an executive of TVK's women's wing in Thanjavur, subsequently filed a formal complaint with the police.

Arrest and Nine-Provision FIR

Acting on the complaint, the Thanjavur police registered a case against Udhayanidhi Stalin under nine provisions. A police team arrived at his Neelangarai residence in Chennai on Tuesday morning and placed him under arrest. He was transported by road toward Thanjavur in a police vehicle, accompanied by former ministers P.K. Sekar Babu and Ma. Subramanian.

Notably, the arrest took place before the DMK's petition seeking urgent relief could come up for a detailed hearing before the Madras High Court — a sequence that drew criticism from party ranks.

Court's Intervention and Directions

When the DMK moved the Madras High Court for urgent relief, the presiding judge initially asked the Public Prosecutor to instruct the police to take no further action until noon. However, the arrest had already been executed by then.

When the petition came up again in the afternoon, the court issued firm directions: the Thanjavur police must complete all required questioning on Tuesday itself and release Udhayanidhi Stalin the same day. The court further directed that no interrogation be conducted on Wednesday, while making clear that the DMK leader must cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

Protests Across Tamil Nadu

Udhayanidhi's arrest triggered widespread demonstrations by DMK cadres across Tamil Nadu, with party workers staging protests and road blockades at multiple locations. The scale of the response underscored the political stakes of the confrontation between the opposition DMK and the ruling TVK government.

What Happens Next

With the Madras High Court's directive in place, Udhayanidhi Stalin was to be released on Tuesday evening following questioning. The case under the nine provisions remains live, and investigators are expected to pursue the matter within the court's stipulated framework. The broader political fallout — centred on the Cauvery dispute and the DMK-TVK rivalry in Tamil Nadu — is likely to intensify in the days ahead.