Chennai, April 18 -- The Madras high court on Thursday directed the Tamil Nadu police to file an FIR against forest minister K Ponmudy for his derogatory comments on women, Shaivites, and Vaishnavites.

Justice Anand Venkatesh called for advocate general PS Raman, during the hearing of a suo moto revision petition taken up in 2023 against the acquittal of Ponmudy from a disproportionate assets case. The judge observed that the video of Ponmudy's speech is still in public domain and it cannot be brushed aside though the minister has offered an apology. The judge granted the AG time till April 21 to report on the steps taken against the minister by the police, and posted further hearing of the suo motu proceedings to April 23.

"Don't regis...