Death threat to Kamal Haasan: TV actor moves Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail

Television actor T. Ravichandran has approached Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail in a case reportedly booked against him by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police in Chennai for issuing a death threat to Member of Parliament (MP) and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan.

Justice G. Jayachandran, on Monday (August 18, 2025), directed a government advocate to get instructions from the CCB and adjourned the hearing on the advance bail plea to Wednesday (August 20). The petitioner had told the court that the words delivered by him during a YouTube interview were “unintentional.”

It was brought to the notice of the court that Mr. Haasan, a Rajya Sabha member, had recently participated in the 15^th year celebrations of actor Suriya’s Agaram Foundation which primarily provides financial assistance to young students in order to help them pursue higher education.

While addressing the audience at the event, the MP had highlighted the importance of education and appreciated the efforts taken by the foundation towards achieving the objective. He also said that education was the only weapon that could break the shackles of Sanatana Dharma.

The threat

Subsquently, while speaking to a YouTube channel, the petitioner had taken strong objection to the actor-cum-politician having termed Sanantana Dharma as shackles that prevent growth of those who do not follow it. He also warned that he would slit the throat of the MP if he continued to make such comments.

The YouTube interview led to a furore. MNM vice-president and retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer A.G. Mourya lodged a complaint with the Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police on August 10 regarding the death threat issued to his party leader by the petitioner.

The complaint was forwarded to the CCB and a First Information Report (FIR) was registered without conducting any preliminary inquiry, the petitioner told the High Court though he was not aware of the number of the crime number (FIR number) that had been booked against him.

Stating that he had no intention to issue a death threat to the MP, the petitioner said that he hailed from a very decent family and that he was ready to abide by any condition to be imposed by the court for the purpose of grant of anticipatory bail.