S.M. Nirmalkumar (35), Dindigul South District Secretary of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (T.V.K.), has been granted bail by the Dindigul District Court in connection with a case filed over an alleged defamatory Facebook post against Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Justice N. Senthilkumar of the Madras High Court.
The issue began after a stampede in Karur late last month during a T.V.K. rally attended by party leader Vijay, which claimed 41 lives. The tragic incident sparked widespread concern across Tamil Nadu, and the case related to the stampede is still pending before the Madras High Court. During the proceedings, Justice N. Senthilkumar made certain observations regarding Vijay’s role in the event.
Following this, Nirmalkumar, a resident of Pethampatti near Sanarpatti, reportedly posted critical comments about the Chief Minister and the judge on his Facebook page. The post went viral on social media, prompting the Sanarpatti Police to register a case and arrest him on October 12.
Soon after his arrest, T.V.K. members staged a sit-in protest outside the Sanarpatti Police Station, demanding his release and immediate court production. The police detained several protesters and later released them after temporary confinement at a nearby wedding hall.
Nirmalkumar was subsequently produced before Judicial Magistrate G. Ananthi (J3 Court), who remanded him in custody until October 24. While in jail, he filed a bail petition before the Dindigul District Court. After hearing arguments today, the court granted him bail.
