The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on 19th June stayed the arrest of Tamil film director Pa Ranjith till 21st June while posting the hearing of his anticipatory bail plea for 21st.
The Thirupananthal police in ThanjaÂvur district of Tamil Nadu booked Ranjith after a functionary of the Hindu Makkal Katchi party lodged a complaint that the director had incited caste enmity while speaking about land rights for Dalits at an event in Thirupananthal on 5th June. In his speech, Ranjith claimed that Raja Raja Cholan, the 10th century Chola emperor, had usurped the lands of the oppressed section. Following the complaint, a case under IPC section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riots, besides promoting enmity between different groups) was registered against Pa Ranjith.
Over 300 actors and intellectuals came out in support of the filmmaker on 18th June. The group of supporters launÂched an online petition, seeking the Tamil Nadu chief minister’s intervention in stopÂping legal action against Ranjith.