Ex-Judge CS Karnan arrested in Chennai over controversial video

The Chennai Police have taken former High Court C.S Karnan into custody over certain videos in which he has allegedly abused and threatened judges in the Supreme Court and threatened sexual violence against their wives, and other women judges in the Court.

The petition filed by the Bar Council of India criticised the lax attitude of police officers towards the case, even after two rounds of interrogation had already been conducted with Karnan. The arrest was made after the Commissioner and DGP of the Chennai Police were summoned to the HC on Tuesday to give updates on the case.

The controversial ex-judge attracted much backlash in October after a video of him abusing female members of the Supreme Court went viral. A group of women lawyers of the Madras High Court had submitted a petition regarding this incident, terming his remarks as an "affront to the dignity of all women".

In November 10, the High Court ordered links to the video blocked and strongly condemned Karnan's use of "scandalous, obscene, vituperative and unparliamentary remarks".

C.S Karnan had also been previously sentenced to six months in prison in 2017 for a similar incident in which he had abused judges and interfered in decisions made by the court.

(Reported by Anjana Nair)