Plea In Madras High Court Seeks Action Against Minister Mano Thangaraj For Posting Video Linking PM Modi With 'Epstein Files'
A plea has been filed in the Madras High Court calling for action against Tamil Nadu Milk and Diary Development Minister Mano Thangaraj for social media posts made by him linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the “Epstein Files”.
Justice S Srimathy admitted the plea and issued notices to the Chief Secretary, the Superintendent of Police, the Deputy Superintendent of Police and the Inspector of Police, Kovilpatti West Police Station.
M Neethipandian, District Head for the BJP Tuticorin North Advocates Team, has filed the plea.
In his plea, Neethipandian submitted that on 13th February at 6 pm, he came across an objectionable Facebook post made by the minister which contained a 3 minute 21 second video falsely claiming that PM Narendra Modi had been named in the Epstein Files. He submitted that the post was patently false, malicious and defamatory designed to criminally defame the PM and incite public hatred.
Neethpandian also pointed out that independent fact-checking organisations like Alt News, Boom Live, and Vishvas News had already debunked the claims made in the video and concluded that it was 100% fabricated with no evidence whatsoever.
It was submitted that the Minister, being a public servant, owed a higher duty of responsibility under Article 75(1)(a) of the Constitution to uphold public discourse. It was submitted that the Minister's post on Facebook, one of the country's largest social media platform, had potential to erode public faith in constitutional institutions.
He further submitted that by making the objectionable posts, the Minister has committed offense under Section 356 BNS (Criminal Defamation), Section 356(2) BNS (Defaming another person), Section 356(3) BNS (defamation by printing), and Section 67 of the IT Act (Publishing obscene and explicit material electronically).
Neethipandian also submitted that he had given a detailed complaint to the Inspector of Police against the Minister. However, even after giving credible information disclosing the commission of cognisable offences, the authorities had failed to take any action against him. He submitted that by not registering an FIR, the police have failed their statutory duty mandated under Section 173(1) of the BNSS.
Thus, he approached the court seeking direction to the Inspector of Police to take appropriate action based on the complaint filed by him by obtaining appropriate sanction from the Chief Secretary and proceed in accordance with law.
Case Title: M Neethipandian v. State and Others
Case No: WP Crl (MD) 1174 of 2026