Close on the heels of the arrest and remand of Eravanan, a relative of Sasikala (former close aide of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa), police on Sunday picked up his business associates and friends for questioning.
Eravanan was picked up on Thursday night and arrested on Friday in a case of abduction, extortion and intimidation of Ravikumar, a contractor from Karamadai who complained of Rs. 10 lakh extortion.
He was produced before the Magistrate at Mettuppalayam on Friday and remanded in judicial custody on charges of trespass, abduction, wrongful confinement, extortion and criminal intimidation and conspiracy.
On Sunday morning, highly placed police sources confirmed that Tamil Mani, a classmate of Eravanan during his postgraduate studies and a business partner in running an oil mill was picked up. Along with him, his manager Kulothangan was picked up from a former MLA's residence at Paramathivelur in Namakkal.
In addition, Eravanan's two close acquaintances in Coimbatore (whose names were not divulged) were picked up. All the four were being questioned at an undisclosed destination in Coimbatore.
However, police sources confirmed that there was no complaint against those being questioned now. The inquiry was only to ascertain the activities and financial dealings of Eravanan. A team led by Superintendents of Police E.S. Uma (Coimbatore) and V. Balakrishnan (Tirupur), under the supervision of Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City, holding additional charge as Inspector-General of Police – West Zone T.P. Sundaramurthy, are carrying out the investigations.
More complaints
Meanwhile, police sources said a complaint by the son of a former AIADMK functionary is being probed. The former AIADMK district secretary of the Nilgiris was killed in a road accident in Coimbatore recently.
The family suspected foul play. Investigations are on to ascertain whether Eravanan had played any role.
In addition, the probe is focusing on a charge that Eravanan tried to use his muscle and political power to buy land in Pappanaickenpudur near Vadavalli at a throwaway price.
The other complaint under the police scanner is the charge by an Erode-based businessman that he was cheated to the tune of several lakhs by Eravanan's men, who promised a quarry contract.
Already, the Chennai City Police are probing a complaint of cheating a Tirupur-based businessman to the tune of Rs 1 crore.
An application seeking police custody of Eravanan is likely to be filed before the court in the next one or two days.
