Madras High Court quashes FIR against Anbumani Ramadoss in unlawful assembly case-OxBig News Network

Anbumani Ramadoss. File
| Photo Credit: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

The Madras High Court on Wednesday (April 23, 2025) quashed an unlawful assembly case registered by the Neyveli Town Police in Cuddalore district against Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss. The case pertained to a demonstration he staged in 2023, protesting damage to paddy crops allegedly caused by the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) management.

Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan allowed an application filed by Mr. Ramadoss, a sitting Rajya Sabha member, to quash the First Information Report after his counsel K. Balu argued that a criminal colour could not be given to the exercise of a democratic right by a political leader. The counsel claimed that his client had engaged in the demonstration, along with his party cadre, in a peaceful manner.

It was also brought to the notice of the court that Mr. Anbumani is a former Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and that he has been fighting for causes such as total prohibition, a smoke-free society, and other such public causes. However, the present criminal case had been registered with a political motive, at the instance of a village administrative officer, the counsel added.