World champion returns: Gukesh lands in Chennai to rapturous welcome
Chennai (PTI): Newly-crowned world chess champion D Gukesh returned home to an enthusiastic reception as hundreds of eager fans, and officials from the Tamil Nadu government and the national federation lined up to receive him at the airport here on Monday.
The 18-year-old defeated China's Ding Liren 7.5-6.5 in Singapore last week to become the youngest ever world champion, overhauling the long-standing mark set by Russian icon Garry Kasparov as a 22-year-old back in 1985.
Upon his arrival, Gukesh thanked everyone for supporting him.
"It's amazing. Your support gave me a lot of energy. It's a great feeling to win the world championship," said Gukesh as media and fans jostled to get a closer view of the youngster.
"It means a lot to bring back trophy to India. Thank you for this reception. I hope we will have a great time in the next few days celebrating together," he added.
Once he touched base at the Kamaraj airport, the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu and his school Velammal Vidayala staff greeted him with a bouquet before draping a shawl around him at the airport lounge.
Gukesh started his chess journey at the Velammal school.
After greeting the waiting fans, Gukesh left for his home in a car decorated with flowers, and his photo.
He is scheduled to speak to the media later in the day at the Velammal School in Mogappair, before settling at home to celebrate with his parents, relatives and friends. His father -- ENT surgeon Dr Rajinikanth -- was with him during the entire competition, while his mother -- microbiologist Padmavathi -- joined him in Singapore after the final round.
On Tuesday, he will be given a grand reception at the Kalaivanar Arangam at Wallahjah Road and he will be taken to the iconic auditorium in a specially-arranged parade.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin is expected to be present during the function to present Gukesh with a cheque of Rs five crore.
"To honour the monumental achievement of Gukesh, the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, I am delighted to announce a cash prize of 5 crore!
"His historic victory has brought immense pride and joy to the nation. May he continue to shine and achieve greater heights in the future," Stalin had written on X soon after Gukesh's historic triumph.
Gukesh is only the second Indian after the great Viswanathan Anand to claim the world title. Anand played a pivotal role in shaping the teenager at his academy here.
Gukesh has enjoyed a stellar year, starting with his win in the Candidates Tournament in Toronto that made him the youngest challenger to the world crown.
He later spearheaded India's first-ever gold-winning campaign in the Chess Olympiad in Budapest. The world champions win also fetched Gukesh a whopping cash prize of USD 1.3 million (approx Rs 11.03 crore).
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'Jai Shri Ram' slogan inside mosque: How shouting particular religious phrase an offence? SC asks
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday asked how raising the slogan of "Jai Shri Ram" a criminal offence.
A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Sandeep Mehta made the observation while hearing a plea challenging the Karnataka High Court's order quashing the proceedings against two persons for allegedly shouting "Jai Shri Ram" inside a mosque.
"They were shouting a particular religious phrase or a name. How is that an offence?" asked the bench on the plea filed by the complainant Haydhar Ali C M.
The apex court also questioned the complainant how the persons, who allegedly came inside the mosque and shouted the slogan, were identified.
The plea challenged a September 13 high court court, which quashed the criminal proceedings against two persons in the case.
"How do you identify these respondents? You say they are all under the CCTV," the bench asked senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, who was appearing for the petitioner.
"Who identified the persons who came inside?" the bench asked further.
Kamat said the high court quashed the proceedings even though the investigation in the case was incomplete.
The bench said the high court observed the allegations did not touch the ingredients of Section 503 or Section 447 of the IPC.
While Section 503 of the IPC deals with criminal intimidation, Section 447 pertains to punishment for criminal trespass.
Referring to the complaint, Kamat said an FIR was not an encyclopedia of offences.
When the bench asked, "Have you been able to identify the actual persons who entered the mosque?" Kamat said the state police would have to explain it.
The bench asked the petitioner to serve a copy of the plea to the state and posted the matter in January, 2025.
The high court in its order said, "It is ununderstandable as to how if someone shouts 'Jai Sriram' it would outrage the religious feeling of any class."
Observing there was no allegation the incident alleged had caused public mischief or any rift, the HC said,
"The complaint itself narrates that the complainant has not even seen who is the one who is alleged to have committed offence of criminal intimidation attracting ingredients of section 506 of the IPC."
The HC order was passed on a plea filed by two persons, who were alleged to have entered a mosque and shouted religious slogan, seeking quashing of the FIR and proceedings against them in the case.
It was alleged that the incident took on September 24, 2023, and a complaint was filed in the Kadaba Police Station, Puttur circle.
The complainant alleged that some unknown persons had barged into the mosque and shouted "Jai Shri Ram" followed by threats.
"Finding no ingredients of any of the offences so alleged, permitting further proceedings against these petitioners would become an abuse of the process of law and result in miscarriage of justice," held the high court.
