Jayam Pandi (45), state president of Hindu Illaignar Sena has surrendered before the Judicial Magistrate court in Madurai, in connection with the bomb blast reported in front of the Puthiya Thalaimurai television channel office in Chennai in the wee hours of Thursday.
A resident of Madurai Simakkal, Pandi has criminal record of having attacked a Sub-Inspector of police in Madurai a year ago, when the officer was regulating traffic in front of the shopping complex bus stand.
Similarly, his name figured in a murder case five years ago after the victim (a friend of Pandi) was smothered to death in a liquor bar. However, the court acquitted Pandi.
Recently, during the imbroglio in the Madurai Adheenam Math, when Hindu outfits staged protests condemning the presence of Nityananda, Pandi shot into fame under the banner of Hindu Makkal Katchi.
After some months, he identified himself as the president of the Hindu Illaignar Sena.
Stepping out of the district courts complex in the noon, Pandi told reporters that the Tamil television channel had been airing anti-Hindu sentiments for sometime under the pretext of freedom of speech.
The TV channel also allegedly promoted Communists and Muslims to speak on issues, which were “disturbing” and "hurting" the Hindus. Condemning this, the outfit volunteers had burst "two set of crackers in front of the television channel's office" in the wee hours and not any bomb as claimed, Pandi said.
He further said that Hindus burst crackers, "while minorities (referring Muslims) would plant bombs."
The Magistrate Mariswari ordered judicial custody for 15 days.