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Tamil Nadu Police Detain Professor Over Instagram Comment Inquiry

By Drooid · Oct 29, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

Tamil Nadu police detained associate professor A. Kalaiyarasan at 5 a.m. on October 28, 2026.
Three officers took him from his Adyar home in a rented car without a complaint.
Police said he was needed for an inquiry into an Instagram comment targeting TVK MLA J. Kamatchi.
Kalaiyarasan denied having an Instagram account and said a fake account used his Harvard photograph.
He was released around 7:45 a.m. and declared his detention unlawful.

History

In 1975 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi invoked Article 352, launching a 21-month Emergency that suspended liberties and led to the detention of over 100,000 opponents under laws such as MISA. The crackdown created a precedent for using police power to silence critics. In 2026 Tamil Nadu police seized professor A. Kalaiyarasan over a fabricated Instagram post, echoing that legacy and prompting calls for safeguards.

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In 1975 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi invoked Article 352, launching a 21-month Emergency that suspended liberties and led to the detention of over 100,000 opponents under laws such as MISA. The crackdown created a precedent for using police power to silence critics. In 2026 Tamil Nadu police seized professor A. Kalaiyarasan over a fabricated Instagram post, echoing that legacy and prompting calls for safeguards.

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