ACTRESS Kasthuri, who made a remark on the Telugu-speaking people of Tamil Naduthatstoked a controversy, was produced beforeacourt here on Sunday, which remanded her to judicial custody. She was arrested from Hyderabad on November 16 by a Chennai police team after the Madras High Court Madurai bench days ago rejected her anticipatory bail petition. While the actress, soon after the row, withdrew her remarks and also apologised,complaints were filed, in the meanwhile, against her with police. A Chennai police team traced herto a film producer’s house in Hyderabad and effected the arrest.

 

She was brought to Chennai and produced before a magistrate court at Egmore here which remanded her to judicial custody till November 29.Later, she was lodged in the Puzhal central prison. Tamil nationalist, Naam Tamizhar Katchi chief Seeman wondered the necessity to arrest and im prison her even after she apologised. The crux of her recent allegation that triggered a row was that some Telugu speaking people, who had come to the state centuries ago t observe the then rulers, were now claiming to be Tamils. According to the actress, such people, who subscribe to a particular political ideology, though claim themselves to be Tamils despitetheirTeluguorigin,donot consider Tamil Brahmins as Tamils. That was the reason why they chose the identity of ‘Dravidian’ andcould not choose‘Tamil,’ for theirideology. Theactresslevelled that allegation while speaking in support of Brahmins at aprotest here onNovember 3.