Udhayanidhi Stalin Released Hours After Arrest in Trisha Remark Case, Madras High Court Intervenes
DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin was released around four hours after his arrest on Tuesday after the Madras High Court directed police to free him following questioning over his alleged "double-meaning" remark referring to actor Trisha. The court asked him to cooperate with the investigation as police continue probing multiple FIRs linked to the controversial speech.
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DMK leader and Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was released on Tuesday, August 4, around four hours after his arrest, following directions from the Madras High Court. The court ordered police to release him after questioning him in connection with his alleged "double-meaning" remark referring to actor Trisha during a political rally, News18 reported. It also directed him to cooperate with the investigation whenever required.
The development came after Udhayanidhi was detained from his residence in Neelankarai, Chennai, by a joint team of Thanjavur and Neelankarai police as part of an investigation into multiple FIRs registered over his speech at a Cauvery protest in Thanjavur. What Udhayanidhi Stalin Said About Trisha, Which Led to His Arrest (Video).
Udhayanidhi Stalin Released
Udhayanidhi Stalin released 4 hours after arrest pic.twitter.com/wV4hPxk2Vp
— NDTV (@ndtv) August 4, 2026
Why Was Udhayanidhi Stalin Arrested?
Police detained Udhayanidhi at around 11 am on August 4 in connection with cases alleging that remarks made during his speech were derogatory towards women.
According to police sources, six FIRs have been registered across Tamil Nadu. The Thanjavur case was filed following a complaint by the women's wing organiser of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), who alleged that the speech contained offensive and objectionable remarks. What Charges Has Udhayanidhi Stalin Been Booked Under After Trisha Remark Controversy?
Security was tightened outside Udhayanidhi's residence before the police arrived, while senior DMK leaders, including Duraimurugan, E V Velu, Sekar Babu, M A Subramanian and V Sabareesan, were present during the detention.
What Did the Madras High Court Say?
The DMK approached the Madras High Court seeking protection for its leader. After hearing the matter, the High Court directed police to release Udhayanidhi after questioning him and instructed him to cooperate with the investigation whenever required. Following the court's order, Udhayanidhi was released approximately four hours after being taken into custody.
Udhayanidhi Calls Arrest a 'Comedy'
Before being taken away, Udhayanidhi briefly addressed reporters and described the police action as a "comedy." After his release, he alleged that the government was attempting to divert attention from key public issues.
"I spoke for over 20 minutes on farmers, their welfare and the Cauvery river water issue. They have manipulated something that I never spoke about and are using it as a diversion tactic. It's not me; even a basic member of my party will not be threatened by such arrests. We will face it legally," Udhayanidhi told the media.
How Did the Controversy Begin?
The controversy stems from a DMK protest over the Cauvery water dispute in Thanjavur on Monday, August 3. While criticising Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Udhayanidhi was interrupted by chants of actor Trisha's name from the crowd. He then made a remark that critics alleged contained a suggestive double entendre referring to the actor. The comment drew criticism on social media and from several political parties, including TVK and the BJP.
The detention triggered protests by DMK workers across Tamil Nadu, while TVK supporters staged counter-protests demanding action against the opposition leader.
TVK national spokesperson Pazha Selvakumar submitted a representation to the National Commission for Women (NCW), alleging that the remarks objectified women and normalised verbal harassment. He urged the commission to seek a public apology and recommend legal action under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy described the alleged remark as "disgusting, obscene, vulgar and shameful" and criticised the DMK leadership over the controversy.
Meanwhile, DMK Lok Sabha MP T R Baalu defended Udhayanidhi, stating that he had not made any remarks targeting any woman and dismissed the allegations as "false." PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss and DMDK general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant also criticised the police action, while Anbumani separately condemned Udhayanidhi's remarks during the protest.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 04, 2026 03:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
