Tamil Nadu’s Director General of Police G. Venkataraman told the Supreme Court that police have registered cases against individuals who allegedly made caste and religion-based defamatory remarks against Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court in connection with the Deepam row.In an affidavit, the DGP said instructions have been issued to police across the state to act swiftly against any material that scandalises the judiciary. The Central Crime Branch’s Cyber Crime Cell has identified several social media accounts allegedly circulating abusive content and has sought action from platform intermediaries to block or remove them.
The submission responds to a plea by advocate G.S. Mani alleging that protests and offensive remarks followed Justice Swaminathan’s order permitting the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp at Thirupparankundram hill in Madurai. The Supreme Court had sought a status report and will hear the matter further.