While the police are investigating the murder of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) functionary N. Suresh Babu alias ‘Pottu’ Suresh, a confidant of Union Minister M.K. Alagiri, special teams are gathering details of the key suspect ‘Attack’ Pandi’s involvement.
According to a senior police officer, 20 cases have been booked against Pandi and his accomplices to date , involving cheating, threatening, holding ‘kangaroo courts,’ and waylaying. He is notorious for abduction for ransom — a case had been registered by a finance firm proprietor that Pandi kidnapped him for a ransom of Rs. 1 crore. Pandi joined the DMK to gain political patronage . Over the years, he gained access to Mr. Alagiri, the officer said. His proximity to the DMK leader won Pandi the post of Chairman, Tamil Nadu Agriculture Marketing Committee, in Madurai when the party was in power.
However, when the AIADMK took office, police complaints against him started piling up . ‘Attack’ Pandi’ and Pottu Suresh figured in land grab complaints received since 2011. When they were jailed, the police lodged Pandi in Tiruchi prison, and Suresh in Palayamkottai central jail for over four months.
Within the DMK there was growing resentment that Pottu Suresh denied partymen access to the Union minister. “This irked many party men, among them Pandi.” Police strongly suspect his role in the killing of Suresh, said a senior official. "Only when we secure Pandi, we’ll know the finer aspects," the officer said.
