M. Natarajan, husband of Sasikala — the former aide of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, was remanded to judicial custody till March 2. He has been lodged in Tiruchi central prison.
After being arrested on Saturday in Chennai, in connection with a land grab case, he was brought to Thanjavur in the early hours on Sunday.
Mr. Natarajan was interrogated at Tamil University police station from 3.30 a.m. He was then taken to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital where a medical check up was done. Later, he was produced before the Magistrate at her residence.
Mr. Natarajan told the Magistrate that he would like to have treatment in a private hospital as he is unwell. To this the Magistrate said that he can take treatment in the medical facility available at the prison. On repeated requests, she asked him to file a separate petition on Monday.
Mr. Natarajan later alleged that the State Government was harassing his family. “But we can bear the harassment as we are followers of Annadurai who has taught us to bear problems,” he said while speaking to reporters before being taken to the prison.
“My arrest is the gift for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa on her birthday (which is on February 24). I also convey my birthday wishes to her," Mr. Natarajan added.
Mr. Natarajan was arrested following a complaint lodged by S. Ramalingam of Vilar near Thanjavur with the district crime branch police that he and his associates forcibly encroached upon his 15,000 sq.ft property to construct a memorial there. Cases were registered against Mr. Natarajan, his brother M. Swaminathan and four others Chinnaiyah, Suresh, Ilanchezhiyan and Kubendran under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Cases have been filed under sections 120 (b), (Criminal conspiracy), 147 (punishment for rioting), and 506 two, (criminal intimidation), and section three of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (prervention of damage and loss Act.
