The Chennai Police on Tuesday detained Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Udhayanidhi Stalin for his purportedly derogatory remarks about Chief Minister Vijay and actor Trisha Krishnan, ANI reported.

A complaint had been filed by actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam against Stalin after the alleged comments made by the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly at a protest rally in Thanjavur on Monday. The protest was about the Cauvery water dispute.

“Not even a drop of Cauvery water has been received,” Stalin said in a video widely shared on social media. “But has the chief minister opened his mouth about it? No. He is only concerned with filing false cases against the DMK.”

As he criticised Vijay, Stalin’s speech was interrupted by supporters shouting “Trisha, Trisha”. Krishnan is Vijay’s former co-star.

As the supporters continued shouting the slogans, Stalin allegedly made a remark that was seen by many social media users as an innuendo about Krishnan.

The TVK and the Bharatiya Janata Party criticised Stalin’s remark on Monday, describing it as obscene. Stalin was also criticised by social media users. The TVK, apart from filing a complaint with the police, also approached the National Commission for Women.

The DMK, however, denied the allegations, saying that no reference was made to Krishnan, ANI reported.

On Tuesday, as he was being taken away by the police, Stalin told India Today: “You decide, you heard the speech. Did I say something wrong? Did I take anybody’s name except the chief minister?”

Hours before Stalin was detained, the Madras High Court on Tuesday agreed to hear his urgent anticipatory bail petition in the afternoon.

Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.

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