Tense moments prevailed at the Llyods Road office-cum-residence of Kamal Hassan’s lawyer on Wednesday afternoon after Tangedco men threatened to disrupt power supply on the premises.
Former advocate general P.S. Raman has been appearing in court on behalf of the actor-director in connection with the release of his latest film — Vishwaroopam.
Around 12.30 p.m. on Wednesday, a group of eight men in a tempo traveller landed at his house on 286, Llyods Road.
They identified themselves as the anti-power theft squad from Tangedco. They asked to check the electricity meter and disconnect power supply to the house owing to misuse of connection.
Hearing the commotion, the staff in the office came out. “They said we had been misusing the power connection. We had taken the connection for a residence but were using it for commercial purposes, they said,” a senior staff member at Mr. Raman’s house said.
The house has been there for nearly 100 years and the office too has functioned from the same premises for nearly the same period, he said.
“All these years, Tangedco never came to us with complaints. We were taken aback by their behaviour today. When Mr. Raman came and tried reasoning with them, they were harsh with him too,” the staff member said.
The argument lasted an hour. “I suspect the government’s hand behind this. Ideally, we should first be served a notice before any action is taken. We can then decide whether to pay a fine or approach the issue legally. We know now that Metrowater and the Chennai Corporation will follow. Neither Kamal Haasan nor his advocate are being allowed to function freely,” the staffer said.
According to a senior Tangedco official, it was just a routine inspection at Mr. Raman’s house. “There was violation and our officials went to inspect,” the official said.
