CHENNAI: A Chennai court on Thursday issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against former Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader K Ponmudi after he failed to appear in connection with a criminal case registered over his alleged hate speech targeting women, Shaivites and Vaishnavites.III Metropolitan Magistrate C Sundarapandian passed the interim order.The case pertains to a speech delivered by Ponmudi at an event in Chennai in April 2025, during which he allegedly made objectionable remarks about women, Shaivites and Vaishnavites.Based on a private complaint filed by BJP Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) councillor Uma Anandan, the court took cognisance of the allegations.Ponmudi subsequently approached the Madras high court seeking to quash the private complaint pending before the magistrate at the George Town Court Complex. However, the high court dismissed his petition on July 2, allowing the trial to proceed.When the case came up for hearing on Thursday, Ponmudi filed a petition seeking exemption from personal appearance on medical grounds. The complainant opposed the plea, citing the accused’s repeated non-appearance.Recording the submissions, the court observed: “In view of serious objections from the complainant, and in view of the direction of the high court to complete the trial within six months, and since the absence of the accused has hindered the proceedings in this case, and as the petition has been moved without producing any medical records, the same is dismissed.”The court then issued a non-bailable warrant against Ponmudi and adjourned the matter to September 2.(With agency inputs)
