Madras HC quashes FIR against film director Ranjith

Madurai, Nov 12 (UNI) The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Friday quashed the First Information Report (FIR) against Tamil film director Pa.Ranjith for making controversial remarks on Emperor Raja Raja Cholan of the Chola dynasty.

Mr.Justice G.Ilangovan allowed the petition filed by the film director in 2019 seeking to quash the FIR registered against him.
In his petition, Mr.Ranjith stated that the crux of his speech was on how to erase casteism and as to how to create casteless society and he had no intention to hurt the sentiments of any particular community or religious group of people.
The Thiruppananthal police in Thanjavur district booked Mr.Ranjith under section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 153 (A) (1) (a) (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc), based on a complaint filed by a functionary of the Hindu Makkal Katchi on June 11, 2019.
While addressing a meeting organized by Blue Panthers Party at Thirupananthal on June 5, the film director said “the period of Raja Raja Cholan, who ruled Thanjavur was a dark one, though many claimed that it was a golden age.” Dalit lands were taken away during his reign and the Caste oppression was also started during his rule.
The biggest irony was that 400 women were converted into “Devadasis” (prostitutes) and they were kept in a building called Mangala Vilas. The devadasi practice commenced only during the era of Raja Raja Cholan, he claimed.
His remarks against the Chola emperor triggered widespread condemnation from various outfits.
Mr.Ranjith directed superstar Rajnikanth starrer-Kabali and Kaala movies, besides Madras, Sarpatta Parambarai films.
Raja Raja Chola ruled parts of southern and northern India, two thirds of Sri Lanka, Maldives and parts of East Asia between 985 and 1014 CE. The World-renowned Brihadeeswarar temple also known as big temple was built by the Chola emperor in Thanjavur.