The case was registered following a complaint filed by advocate P Sheela of Karumandapam in Trichy, who accused R Nataraj of making a false claim that thousands of temples in Tamil Nadu had been destroyed with police support over the last two years. (Photo: R Nataraj/ Facebook)
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For messages on WhatsApp, ex-Tamil Nadu DGP booked for ‘spreading false propaganda’ against DMK govt
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The Trichy cybercrime police have booked former Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) R Nataraj for allegedly spreading malicious messages against the DMK government. The case against Nataraj is based on a series of messages circulated via WhatsApp, which the DMK government, led by Chief Minister M K Stalin, has described as false propaganda.
During a speech at a wedding in Chennai, Stalin referred to a senior police officer, later identified as Nataraj, accusing him of indulging in a smear campaign. According to Stalin, Nataraj falsely claimed that the DMK did not need Hindu votes to win elections, a statement the Chief Minister vehemently denied.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Nataraj said that he will address “this situation through legal channels.” “The forwarded message in question is not authored by me; it was part of a discussion in a closed group. It seems likely that the Chief Minister was misinformed, as the discussion appeared on someone’s Twitter, not mine. Since this is now a subject of investigation and I am yet to receive the FIR copy, I will refrain from further comment. However, I firmly believe that the question of Section 153 does not apply in this case,” he said.
Nataraj, also a former AIADMK MLA, faces charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act. The allegations include promoting enmity between different religious groups, intentionally provoking public disturbance, spreading rumours to incite fear or alarm, and personation via communication devices.
The case was registered following a complaint filed by advocate P Sheela of Karumandapam in Trichy, who accused Nataraj of making a false claim that thousands of temples in Tamil Nadu had been destroyed with police support over the last two years. This allegation, as per the case, not only challenges the integrity of the state police but also attempts to incite communal unrest.
Additionally, Nataraj allegedly shared a screenshot from a news channel on a WhatsApp group claiming that Chief Minister Stalin had expressed a disregard for Hindu voters.
The former DGP was booked under sections 153A (promoting communal disharmony), 504 (intentional insult), 505 (1)(b) (intent to provoke), 505 (1)(c) (inciting fear), 505 (2) (statements creating hatred) of the IPC, and section 66 D (identity theft) of the IT Act.
Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority.
Expertise
Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews.
Key Coverage Areas:
State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor.
Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties.
Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu.
Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail.
His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More
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