Initiating suo moto proceedings against controversial BJP leader H Raja for his derogatory remarks against the judiciary, the Madras High Court on Monday ordered him to appear before it and explain his comments.
A division bench of Justices C T Selvam and M Nirmal Kumar ordered the notice to Raja asking him to appear before it within four weeks after a group of advocates brought to the court's attention about Raja's remarks.
The directive by the division bench came minutes after the second bench of the Madras High Court comprising of Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh and K Kalyanasundaram refused to initiate suo moto proceedings against Raja. However, the bench had told the advocates to file a contempt petition before the court.
Raja, known for his penchant for stoking controversies, created a stir on Saturday by calling the Tamil Nadu police "totally corrupt" and using a derogatory term for the High Court during an argument with police in Tirumayam in Pudukkottai district. During the incident, which was caught on a mobile phone, Raja used harsh words against the police after they refused to allow Vinayaka idol procession through a communally-sensitive village.
"Tamil Nadu police is highly corrupt and corrupt to the core. How did you people allow 19 colour television sets to be taken inside Puzhal prison in Chennai? Police are corrupt and you people have received bribe from members of other communities. If you want, ask me. I am ready to bribe you. Police is anti-Hindu," Raja is seen telling police personnel in the video.
It is at this point, Raja used a derogatory comment against the High Court. After the incident, a case was registered against Raja and six others under sections 143, 188, 153 (A), 290, 294 (B), 353, 505 (1) (B) (C) and 506 (1) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on Sunday.
Raja is known for his controversial remarks and he has been in the news for all wrong reasons. In March this year, he tweeted about statues of Periyar being the next to be demolished after that of Lenin's in Tripura and calling DMK MP Kanimozhi as "illegitimate child" of late DMK President M Karunanidhi.