A sedition case has been filed against the author of Meendezhum Pandiyar Varalaru (Resurgence of Pandiyar History), which claims that Pallars, a Scheduled Caste, were the original rulers of southern Tamil Nadu. The book, banned by the State government, argues that the Pallars were the original settlers on fertile river tracts in Tamil territory.
The Sattur Town Police have filed the case against the author K. Senthil Mallar and his father-in-law Perumalsamy (63) under Sections 124A, 153A, 153B and 295A of the Indian Penal Code – provisions related to sedition and causing disharmony between sections of society. The Police on Wednesday arrested Perumalsamy from his house in Chinna Odaipatti Village, Sattur, for possession of copies of the book and seized four books.
The Gazette Order says that the book under section 95 (1) (a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974) should be forfeited to government.
The book, the author said, was an attempt towards caste identity construction . However, the government’s gazette notification says the presentation of the author carried demeaning description and disparaging remarks against certain communities and carries defamatory statements and distorted history regarding prominent leaders of the State.