Karunas booked for provocative speech

Actor-politician Ken Karunas, who won the 2016 Assembly elections on an AIADMK ticket, was on Thursday booked by the Chennai Police for “provocative speech” against Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and senior police officials.

Addressing a meeting organised by Mukkulathor Puli Padai, a caste outfit headed by him, Karunas made derogatory and defamatory remarks against Palaniswami and senior police officials. Though the speech was made on Sunday, the incident came to light after a video shared on the social media went viral.

After the video went viral, Nungambakkam Police registered cases against Karunas under 153, 153 (A) (1)(a), (1)(b)(c)(ii), 307, 506 (i) & R/W 120 (b) IPC and Section 41(VI)(a)(b)(c)(II), Madras City Police Act 1888, for criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity, promoting disharmony, attempt to murder and issuing death threat.

In his speech, Karunas, a popular comedian before he took the political plunge, tore into Palaniswami, his ministers and senior police officials while talking about the functioning of the AIADMK government and how many who owed their positions to jailed AIADMK leader V K Sasikala "ditched" her. In his speech, Karunas justified murder and use of weapons by his community members, while daring the police to take action against them.

Though he emerged victorious on AIADMK ticket, he fell out with Palaniswami and joined Dhinakaran camp a few months back.

After the case was registered, Karunas expressed regret if his comments had caused hurt among people. “I never made any comments to offend any community and if some comments have caused hurt, I express regret,” Karunas said.

The reaction from the government was strong with Revenue Minister R B Uthayakumar tearing into him. “Karunas does not have control over tongue since he is still gloating over his new-found position in politics. He has forgotten that he became MLA courtesy AIADMK,” he said.