Tamil Nadu: Senior BJP Leader H Raja Sentenced To 6 Months In Jail For Derogatory Tweets Against Periyar And Kanimozhi

BJP former national secretary H Raja, a prominent face of the party in Tamil Nadu, was on Monday convicted and sentenced to undergo six months jail term in two cases booked against him for his controversial tweets against social reformer Periyar E V Ramasamy and seemingly targetting DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi.

In 2018, two tweets were posted from the X handle (then Twitter) of H Raja. The first one insinuated that the statues of Periyar in Tamil Nadu must be demolished on the lines of the Lenin’s statue that was vandalised in Tripura. The second tweet made certain references seemingly at Kanimozhi questioning her family lineage. 

The Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam had filed complaints against him in Erode Town and Karunagalpalayam police stations. Raja had then claimed that the tweet was posted by the admin of his Twitter handle without his knowledge. 

The prosecution argued that his post had led to tensions and disturbed public peace and tranquillity.

Passing orders in the case, G Jayavel, Assistant Sessions Judge, Additional Special Court for trial of criminal cases related to MPs and MLAs, said the evidence available on record showed that pursuant to the message, tension prevailed among the followers of Periyar.

“This alone is enough to prove disturbance to public peace and tranquillity... pursuant to the message, the statue of Periyar was damaged in Tirupattur,” the court held while convicting him under Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation, with intent to cause riot) and 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code.

The judge sentenced him to undergo six months simple imprisonment for each section. The sentences would run concurrently. He also imposed a fine of Rs 2,000. 

As for the case on his comments against Kanimozhi, the judge held that the prosecution had established the offences of “disturbance to public peace” and “insult to the modesty of a woman” and awarded six months jail and Rs 3,000 fine. 

The court suspended the sentences for 30 days. Raja told journalists he will appeal against the verdict.