Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai has been named in a fresh criminal case filed over alleged provocative speeches made during a religious gathering of Lord Murugan devotees in Chennai. The case also includes Hindu Munnani state president Kadeswara Subramaniam and another functionary, Selvakumar, for allegedly inciting communal discord during the event held on June 22.
The complaint, lodged by advocate Vanjinathan, alleges that several speeches and resolutions presented during the “Murugan Devotees Conference” crossed legal boundaries and promoted enmity between communities. The FIR was filed by Anna Nagar Police under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS) — including 196(1)(a), 299, 302, and 353(1)(2)(B) — which pertain to outraging religious feelings, provoking communal enmity, and disturbing public peace.
According to the complaint, the speeches not only stirred tension among religious groups but also violated specific conditions laid down by the Madras High Court for conducting the event. The conference saw participation from prominent political figures including current TN BJP president Nainar Nagendran and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
This is not the first time Annamalai has faced legal scrutiny. In December 2024, he and over 900 BJP workers were booked for unlawful assembly after organizing a 'Black Day' rally in Chennai without police permission. The rally was held to protest the state-sponsored funeral of a convict in the Coimbatore bomb blast case.
Earlier, during the April 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, two separate FIRs were filed against Annamalai for violating the model code of conduct, with allegations that he continued campaigning beyond permitted hours in multiple constituencies.
