Will
@TVKVijayHQ @CMOTamilnadu government withdraw pending police cases against anti-nuclear protesters?
Demand among the anti-nuclear protesters to withdraw pending cases against them, which were slapped when the protest against the commissioning of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant was in peak from 2011 to 2013, grew louder with the formation of new TVK government in Tamil Nadu.
As many as 349 cases were registered against the protesters, of which 213 were withdrawn through a GO in October 2014 and another 26 in September 2021. Reasons including the government dropping further action, the High Court quashing some cases, the trial court disposing of cases under the ‘Lodged File’ category, two convictions and one acquittal contributed to the closure of tens of other criminal cases. According to police sources, as of now 46 cases against the protesters are still pending. “Our anti-nuclear protest was non-violent and for purely public cause. These cases caused irreparable damages to lives of youngsters from many coastal villages including Kudankulam, Idinthakarai, Koothenkuzhi, Perumanal and Koottapuli,” said the founder of People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy SP Udayakumar who led the protesters.
Udayakumar added that the youths were unable to get a passport to join their preferred jobs abroad as they could not secure a no objection certificate from the local police. “The families of coastal villages were left to suffer under poverty and unemployment over a decade. I was personally affected with these cases. My passport remained blocked many years till I got a favourable High Court order two years ago,” he said. Udayakumar further recalled promises made by the AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and DMK president MK Stalin in 2021 election campaign to withdraw all pending cases. “I personally met Stalin after he became Chief Minister and demanded him to fulfil the election promise. However, nothing happened,” he said.
39 of 46 pending cases recommended for closure
When contacted by TNIE, a police officer requesting anonymity said that the district police had recommended closure of 39 cases out of total 46 pending cases against the protesters in February 2026. “Seven cases that were registered for damaging public properties including vehicles of police and Tahsildar and a TASMAC outlet cannot be withdrawn as per law,” the officer added. However, Udayakumar differed from the officer stating that most of accusations in those seven cases were exaggerated. “With a policy decision, the TVK government can easily close all pending cases against us considering the future of the youngsters. We are planning to meet Chief Minister C Jospeh Vijay in this connection,” he added.