The Tiruppur district police have lodged a complaint against Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu, for allegedly including a child in a campaign event which allegedly resulted in derogatory remarks aimed at the Chief Minister.

According to police reports, this incident occurred during a campaign meeting near the Periyar statue in Dharapuram town. A formal case was registered at the Dharapuram Police Station, and authorities have initiated an investigation into the matter.

As the Model Code of Conduct is currently active in the Dharapuram Assembly constituency, the police cited directives from the Election Commission that explicitly prohibit involving children in election-related activities. The press release stated that the Commission had warned against the use of minors in such contexts.

The allegations claim that Udhayanidhi invited a child to speak in a manner that insulted the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, although specific details regarding the child's comments were not disclosed. The child's identity and age have also not been revealed in the statement.

The police did not clarify whether their actions were triggered by a complaint from an individual, political party, or election official, nor did the release provide any information regarding the complainant.

While the police confirmed the registration of the case, no conclusions have been drawn at this stage, and Udhayanidhi's response to the allegations remains unreported. Additionally, there is no information on whether authorities have sought an explanation from him, nor is there a timeline established for the completion of the investigation.

Further details regarding the legal basis for the charges and the specific evidence being considered have yet to be disclosed. The investigation at the Dharapuram Police Station is ongoing concerning these allegations.

Source

Original IANS report

Edited with AI assistance.

Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration.