Suppressing voice again? TN police arrests YouTuber and DMK critic Karthik Gopinath, BJP condemns action

Chennai, May 30: Tamil Nadu police on Monday arrested a prominent Tamil Youtuber, Karthik Gopinath over the issue of raising money for temples at Siruvachur in the Perambalur district. He has been charged with sections 420 and 409 of the India Penal Code.

 

 

It was reported that Karthik Gopinath had been collecting funds through the fund-raising app Milaap to renovate the desecrated temples at Siruvachur.In the months of October and November 2021, miscreants had vandalized the Periyasamy – Chelliyamman Temple and the Sengamalayar Temple on different occassions. Miscreants had also vandalized the idols of temples associated with the Madurakaliamman temple which falls under the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments department.

 

 

However, there has been debate over his collection of money for a temple under HR&CE control. Elements supportive of the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu have used the issue to launch a witch-hunt against the YouTuber.

 

Reacting to his arrest, BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai has condemned the arrest stating that the DMK government in Tamil Nadu is resorting to intimidating tactics to muzzle the voices of critics.

 

 

This is not the first time the Tamil Nadu police have gone after critics of the ruling DMK. Earlier, Maridhas was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police for a video about Tablighi Jamaat and for a tweet that came in the light of the late Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat. However, the DMK government received a knock on the head from the Madras High Court which quashed the FIRs registered against the YouTuber.

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