It’s Wednesday, January 21, 2026, and if you’ve been following the political chess match in Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court just flipped the board. Or nothing. Yesterday, the Madurai Bench dropped a massive ruling that basically labels Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin’s “Sanatana Dharma” comments as official hate speech.1
Let’s be real—the timing is brutal. With the Assembly elections less than four months away, the “Dravidian model” just hit a major legal wall. The thing is, this wasn’t even a case directly against Udhayanidhi; it was about quashing an FIR against BJP’s Amit Malviya.2 But in doing so, the judge didn’t hold back. Those too.
Also Read | Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi Sentenced to 17 Years in Jail
The “Sanatana” Ruling: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where a 2023 speech is still haunting the corridors of power in 2026. Here’s the ground reality from the court:
-
The “Genocide” Interpretation: Justice S. Srimathy was very specific.3 She said using the word ozhippu (eradication/abolition) for a religion or a group of people is effectively a call for genocide or culturicide.4 Or nothing.
-
The “Scot-Free” Comment: And here’s the kicker—the court recorded its “pain” that the people who initiate hate speech (referring to the Minister) go unpunished, while those who react to it face the law.5 The thing is, no FIR has been filed against Udhayanidhi in Tamil Nadu yet.6
-
100 Years of History: The judge noted that the DMK and Dravida Kazhagam have been on a “clear attack on Hinduism” for over a century.7 Let’s be real, that’s a heavy historical weight to drop in a modern courtroom.
-
Amit Malviya Quashed: The FIR against Malviya for his “genocide” post was thrown out.8 The court basically said he was just a “victim” reacting to hate speech, not the creator of it.9 Those too.
Also Read | Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi Sentenced to 17 Years in Jail
Udhayanidhi Stalin: Legal Timeline (2023–2026)
| Date | Event | Outcome / Status |
| Sept 2, 2023 | “Sanatana Abolition” Speech | Compared Sanatana Dharma to Dengue/Malaria. |
| March 2024 | Madras HC (Anita Sumanth) | Refused to remove him from office but called remarks “perverse.” |
| Jan 27, 2025 | Supreme Court | Refused to entertain writ petitions for criminal action. |
| Jan 20, 202610 | Madurai Bench (Current)11 | Officially termed remarks as “Hate Speech” and “Culturicide.”12 |
And Here’s the Kicker…
The thing is, Udhayanidhi is still standing firm.13 He’s already said he’s “ready to face the rule of law” and that his ideology aligns with Ambedkar and Periyar.14 Or nothing. But with the court now linking the term Sanatana Ozhippu to “genocide,” the legal ground is shifting.15 Those too.
One side comment—the BJP is already using this as a massive campaign tool. CR Kesavan called it a “flagrant abuse of faith.” Let’s be real, the DMK has a massive fight on its hands to keep this from becoming the central theme of the May elections. It’s an ongoing situation where the “Dravidian legacy” is being tested in a way we haven’t seen in decades.
Also Read | Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi Sentenced to 17 Years in Jail
End…
