The Madras High Court confirmed that Manuvel @ Manuvel Amalraj was not guilty of encouraging violence against the government concerning the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve issue. The court found there wasn't enough proof to find him guilty.
On June 11, 2013, Manuvel was reportedly seen by police at Neithalapuram Bus Stop in Tamil Nadu, speaking against the government's decision to set up a Tiger Sanctuary in the Sathyamangalam Forest. The police claimed he encouraged the local tribes and villagers to protest, fearing they would be forced to leave and lose resources.
Manuvel was accused of spreading false information and trying to create public disorder. The trial happened in a local court in Sathiyamangalam, Erode District. Even though the prosecution brought in 31 witnesses and showed 19 documents, Manuvel was found not guilty on January 30, 2019, because there wasn't enough evidence.
The state, represented by Mr. A. Damodaran, challenged the not-guilty verdict, arguing that the trial court didn't evaluate the evidence properly. They claimed Manuvel was part of a group that wanted to start an armed revolution. However, the court found no solid proof of any organized violent activity.
The court, made up of Justices P. Velmurugan and M. Jothiraman, noted that just speaking out against government policies, like the Tiger Reserve, doesn't automatically mean someone committed a crime. They pointed out that there was no evidence showing Manuvel organized an armed group or conducted weapons training.
"Mere expression of opposition or apprehension regarding a Government policy, by itself, cannot amount to an offence," the court stated.
The court rejected the appeal on February 27, 2026, agreeing that the trial court was right to give Manuvel the benefit of the doubt. They stressed that when two interpretations are possible, the one that favors the accused should be chosen.
The court's decision highlights the need to carefully separate lawful protests from criminal acts. They concluded that there was not enough evidence to prove Manuvel committed a crime, and he was rightfully found not guilty.
