A police case was registered on Tuesday against Mettupalayam AIADMK MLA A.K. Selvaraj, five ward members of Mettupalayam Municipality, and over 15 partymen following a ruckus that erupted after he reportedly behaved rudely with the Municipal Commissioner.
A video depicting the MLA speaking in a loud tone to Commissioner Amudha went viral on social media.
The MLA, the five councillors: R. Thanasekaran (10th ward), P. Sunil Kumar (18th ward), Viayalakshmi (31st ward), Muthusamy (22nd ward), and R. Marudhachalam (24th ward), and AIADMK partymen at the scene of incident were booked under IPC Sections 294 (b) (use of abusive words), 147 (rioting), and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty), besides Section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act 1998.
The Mettupalayam police registered a case late on Tuesday night based on a complaint lodged by the official, complaining that the MLA had obstructed her from performing her duties.
According to municipal sources, the MLA reportedly entered the Commissioner’s chamber when the officials were midway through a meeting to discuss Republic Day celebration. The MLA demanded updates on the status of different works.
According to the local body sources, only the chairperson was empowered to summon officials and ask for records.
The MLA was said to have lost his cool over the Commissioner replying to his queries in seated position.
Denying rude behaviour, Mr. Selvaraj said he had gone to meet the Commissioner after fixing an appointment and was only looking to know the status of a few works to be carried out by the local body using the MLA constituency development fund.
Later in the day, P.R.G. Arunkumar, AIADMK rural district unit secretary and Kavundampalayam MLA submitted a petition to the Coimbatore district administration, complaining that Mr. Selvaraj was not allowed to perform his duty as an elected representative.
No arrest has been made so far, police sources added.
