The Madras High Court has granted interim bail to activist Rangarajan Narasimhan in connection with two cases—one for allegedly publishing a distorted audio conversation with Sriperumbudur Embar Jeeyar and another for making derogatory remarks against a woman on social media.
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, who heard the bail plea on Tuesday, granted interim bail under specific conditions. Rangarajan was directed not to make any further remarks against Sriperumbudur Jeeyar or indulge in similar offenses in the future. Additionally, he was ordered to report to the concerned police station daily for a week and to execute a bail bond of ₹10,000.
The arrest, carried out by the cybercrime wing of the Chennai city police on December 16, stemmed from a complaint filed by Sriperumbudur Jeeyar. Rangarajan had allegedly shared an audio clip claiming that the Jeeyar performed rituals to mitigate Brahmana Dhosam (sins against Brahmins) at the request of Tamil Nadu’s Deputy Chief Minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin. The claims sparked widespread attention as Udhayanidhi, an avowed atheist and member of the DMK, upholds rationalism as a core principle of his party.
Rangarajan, a resident of Srirangam and a controversial activist known for filing multiple petitions regarding alleged misappropriation of temple properties by influential individuals, was arrested and lodged in Puzhal Central Prison.