Cases have been registered against Bharatiya Janata Party national secretary H. Raja in Karur, Pudukottai and Thanjavur for his alleged derogatory remarks against officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department in Dindigul district recently.
HR&CE Department officials preferred complaints with the police at different places in the central districts seeking action against Mr. Raja for his remarks over the past couple of days. The Karur Town police booked a case against Mr. Raja on Wednesday for his “derogatory remarks” against the officials and their family members based on a complaint lodged by Suriya Narayanan, Assistant Commissioner, HR&CE, and 55 others.
Mr. Raja has been booked under IPC sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Women Harassment Act. In Pudukottai district, a case had been registered under the above-mentioned sections in Ganesh Nagar police station on a complaint preferred by a HR&CE official by name Ramakrishnan, said the sources. In Thanjavur, a similar case was registered against Mr. Raja in the Thanjavur Police station on Thursday based on a complaint preferred by V. Kannan, State general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Thirukoil Thozhilalar Union.
Demonstrations held
A couple of days ago, HR&CE officials staged demonstrations at different places in Tiruchi and Karur districts protesting against the alleged offensive remarks made against them by Mr. Raja.
In Nagapattinam district, a group of HR&CE officials went to the District Police Office in Nagapattinam town on Wednesday and submitted a complaint to the police authorities seeking action against Mr. Raja. Another group of officials including four women have submitted a complaint to the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mayiladuthurai sub-division.
