Popular Tamil Vlogger Maridhas Does A Reality Check On Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s Assets, DMK Files Complaint With Police

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has been caught on the wrong foot by popular Tamil video blogger Maridhas' vlog that deals with the value of its founder and five time chief minister, the late M Karunanidhi's movable and immovable properties.

While the DMK cadre and supporters have resorted to the tactics of abusing Maridhas in an unparliamentary language, a local leader in Madurai has filed a complaint with police against the video blog (vlog).

Maridhas had initially planned to release the video on 6 June and announced it on social media. Even as he announced details of the vlog on the late Tamil Nadu chief minister, he was asked to shelve it.

“Pressure was put on me from all sides,” Maridhas told Swarajya and added that he released the vlog yesterday (7 June). Since then, he has been trolled, abused and threatened by various DMK cadres and followers.

While uploading the vlog “Father Of Corruption Karunanidhi”, Maridhas invited DMK leaders to respond to the issues he had raised and he would take it down.

Maridhas came up with the vlog following a DMK campaign on the eve of its founder's 96th birthday to say that he had never misused government funds.

The DMK, particularly, came up with a reported incident during a power outage when the late leader first used a candle for his official work and then another one for his personal work.

The vlogger’s argument in the video is simple. He says the late Karunanidhi was in power for 19 years, 17 of them on his own strength. He had served three full terms as chief minister, including 2006-11 as the head of a minority government.

Pointing out to George W Bush and Barrack Obama serving as presidents for two terms in the US, Maridhas says that the value of their total family properties is between Rs 40 crore and Rs 45 crore.

In contrast, “the value of Karunanidhi’s movable and immovable properties is worth Rs 25,000 crore,” he says and wonders how a chief minister of just a state in India could accrue such wealth in contrast to two presidents of a huge nation.

“Youths and students need not trust me. Let them do their own research on the points I have raised. They will find the truth on their own,” says Maridhas.

“Karunanidhi’s daughter Selvi owns a farmhouse valued at Rs 150 crore. How did she get such property without doing anything?” he asked.

Tamil Nadu police have already filed a first information report (FIR) against Maridhas for doing a vlog on dangers of the spread of coronavirus caused by the Tablighi Jamaat congregations at the Aalami Markaz Nizamuddin in New Delhi during March.

The complaint was filed by a member of the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (Tamil Nadu Muslims Development Party) or TMMK, of Melapalayam village in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district.

Following this, similar cases have been filed against Maridhas in a few other places across the state. These cases have reportedly been filed to torment Maridhas, particularly for his anti-DMK stand and vlogs.

Maridhas has been getting anticipatory bails for these cases in view of the coronavirus situation, which has forced the courts to go easy in remanding people to custody.

In the case filed by the Melapalayam TMMK member, the Tirunelveli principal judge has given anticipatory bail to the vlogger until 9 July.

Political analysts see a DMK-TMMK collusion to try and trouble Maridhas. “They want to stop Maridhas from producing any vlog. If they file these cases, he will have time only to answer calls from police stations and attend cases,” said an analyst.

DMK sources said Maridhas was being unfair as he does not make any reference to the late J Jayalalithaa, who had been found guilty by the courts on charges of corruption.

“He is a Bharatiya Janata Party supporter. Why is he not raising any crucial issue regarding the ruling All India Anna DMK,” asked a source, who did not wish to be identified, adding that attempts are being made to discredit the DMK ahead of the assembly elections scheduled for May next year.