Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MLA and former Tamil Nadu minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan was arrested on Friday for making remarks about Chief Minister Vijay that a member of the state’s ruling party alleged were derogatory.Radhakrishnan, who represents the Tiruchendur constituency, was arrested at Authoor in Thoothukudi district shortly after the Madras High Court denied him anticipatory bail, reported Live Law.Radhakrishnan had made the allegedly derogatory remarks during a public meeting held on June 20. He had been booked on June 23 under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace and statements conducing to public mischief, reported The Indian Express.The complaint was filed by an office-bearer of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam named S Selvam.On Friday, he was inspecting records at the Authoor Town Panchayat when he was arrested.DMK president and former Chief Minister MK Stalin asked the new Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government “what was the urgent need to arrest” Radhakrishnan.“Why did this ‘pure power’ administration – which has taken no action so far on the complaint filed by a gangrape survivor against the TVK MLA from Srivaikuntam – fail to show similar urgency in that case?” Stalin asked on social media.He was referring to allegations against TVK MLA G Saravanan, who has been accused of supporting two men who raped a woman in May, reported The News Minute.Stalin asked that if arrests are made for making defamatory remarks, “how many people would have to be arrested for the things today’s ministers say”.“Without delivering any benefits to the people who voted for it, and having retained power through horse-trading, the chief minister seems to think he can bide his time by arresting Opposition parties that criticise him,” he alleged.HC observationsDismissing Radhakrishnan’s petition, Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan said that he should not have made the statements as an MLA.“Being a member of the legislative assembly, what kind of speech you have spoken?” Live Law quoted the bench as asking. “Whoever it maybe, you have to respect the chief minister.”It added: “In state of Tamil Nadu, since 1967, people from the cinema are being voted. Then why are you making these statements? You are not a layman. You are a member of the Assembly.”Radhakrishnan had argued that his speech should not attract the sections he has been charged under.“Whatever he has spoken may be defamation,” his counsel was quoted as saying. “But not these sections.”Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.