TN: FIR against Udhayanidhi Stalin for involving child in poll campaign

Tiruppur: Tiruppur district police have registered a case against Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin over allegations that a child was involved in an election campaign meeting in Dharapuram and made to speak in a manner insulting the Chief Minister.

According to a police press release, the incident allegedly took place during a campaign meeting near the Periyar statue in Dharapuram town on Saturday. The case was registered at Dharapuram Police Station, and an investigation is underway.

Police said the action came while the Model Code of Conduct is in force in the Dharapuram Assembly constituency. The district police referred to Election Commission instructions prohibiting the use of children in activities connected with elections.

The police statement alleged that Udhayanidhi made a child speak in a manner that insulted the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and accused him of involving children in election campaign activities. However, the release did not reproduce the remarks allegedly made by the child or explain the circumstances in which they were made.

Police also did not identify the child or disclose the child’s age, how the child was brought into the campaign proceedings, or whether the case followed a complaint from an individual, political party or election official. The complainant’s details were not provided.

The press release did not specify the legal provisions invoked in the case and contained no findings establishing the allegations. It also did not include Udhayanidhi’s response or indicate whether police had sought his explanation.

Police said the investigation was continuing, with further details on the provisions invoked and evidence being examined yet to be disclosed.

With IANS inputs