B. Essor Gopi, a close confidant of Union Minister M.K. Alagiri, was on Saturday listed as an accused in a murder that happened during 2009 Parliamentary elections.
Gopi is now in judicial custody in connection with a land grabbing case.
Investigation into a case of fatal road accident, in which a youth, M. Pandiarajan was killed, revealed that he was brutally murdered after being tortured by a gang.
Three persons, including the Avaniapuram municipal councillor belonging to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, K. Manikandan, were arrested.
Superintendent of Police (Madurai rural district), Asra Garg, said that Pandiarajan (35) was found dead in a “road accident” at Avaniapuram on April 16, 2009.
His wife Pandiselvi and mother Lakshmi had approached police claiming that Pandiarajan was murdered.
No action was taken and the case registered (under Section 304 (A) of Indian Penal Code) “remained under investigation” for more than two years.
“It was a well planned murder,” Mr. Garg said. Gopi was irked when Pandiarajan allowed Communist Party of India (Marxist) cadre to put up a party office on his land during the elections. Pandiarajan had told Gopi that he need not question him on this decision.
Gopi's men picked Pandiarajan from his home and assaulted him.
“When he fell unconscious, they took him to an isolated road off the Madurai-Tirumangalam Ring Road at Echanodai, where he was run over by four-wheelers,” Mr. Garg said.
Admitting that investigating officers of the case had erred, Mr. Garg said that departmental action would be taken against them.
