04 August,2026 09:48 PM IST | Chennai | mid-day online correspondent
Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was released on station bail on Tuesday. PIC/PTI
Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was released on station bail on Tuesday after being questioned by the police in connection with a case registered against him, following a direction from the Madras High Court.
The court had ordered the police to release Udhayanidhi after completing the inquiry on Tuesday itself. Acting on the direction, police questioned him for around one-and-a-half hours at the Sengipatti Police Station in Thanjavur district in the presence of Superintendent of Police Sundaravathanam before releasing him on station bail, news agency IANS reported.
By the time the questioning commenced, Udhayanidhi had spent nearly eight hours in police custody.
Police had initially planned to question him at the Thanjavur South Police Station. However, after a large number of DMK workers gathered outside the premises, the venue was shifted to the Sengipatti Police Station.
Udhayanidhi initially objected to being questioned at the new venue and reportedly refused to step out of the police vehicle. After prolonged discussions with police officials, he entered the police station and cooperated with the inquiry.
Following his release, the DMK leader was greeted by party workers who had assembled outside the police station. Standing in an open vehicle, he waved to supporters and acknowledged their presence.
Before being taken into custody, Udhayanidhi's counsel had approached the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail.
During the hearing, the Tamil Nadu government informed the court that it had no intention of seeking his judicial remand and that he would be granted station bail after questioning.
Recording the government's submission, the court directed the police to release Udhayanidhi after completing the inquiry on Tuesday and instructed that the questioning should not be extended to the following day.
Meanwhile, DMK President and former Chief Minister MK Stalin criticised the police action, alleging that the ruling TVK government was attempting to divert attention from what he described as its failures.
Stalin further alleged that the government had targeted the Leader of the Opposition to prevent him from attending the Tamil Nadu Assembly's Budget Session scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
The detention also sparked protests by DMK workers at several locations, with supporters gathering outside police stations and along the route as Udhayanidhi was taken from Chennai to Thanjavur for questioning.
(With IANS inputs)
