Former Transport Minister and DMK Tiruchi district secretary K.N.Nehru, former MLA Anbil Periyasamy and Tiruchi Deputy Mayor M.Anbazhagan were among the seven persons arrested here on Thursday on the charge of forcibly acquiring a land from a doctor for building the party's district office in Tiruchi.
A complaint was filed by K.Srinivasan, a medical practitioner of Thuraiyur near Tiruchi, alleging that 13,920 square feet of land held by his family was encroached upon and taken over by Mr.Nehru and 10 others for constructing the party office, Kalaignar Arivalayam, near the Chathram Bus Stand. The building is spread over about 56,000 sq ft and the value of the portion of land was estimated at Rs.10 crore, police said.
Dr.Srinivasan alleged in his complaint that the land was encroached upon in December 2006 by some persons on the instructions of Mr.Nehru. He, his wife Manimegalai and father Krishnasamy were forcibly taken to the office of Mr.Nehru by Mr.Anbazhagan and others. They were allegedly threatened there by Mr.Nehru, his brother K.N.Ramajeyam, Mr.Anbil Periyasamy, Mr.Anbazhagan and Kudamuritti Sekar, a party functionary. Dr.Srinivasan claimed he was also assaulted, resulting in his teeth being broken. He was forced to sign an unregistered agreement for the “sale” of his land to the DMK. Though an “advance” of Rs.40 lakh was given to him, the money was taken away by DMK men.
On September 7, 2007, he was “taken” to Mr.Nehru's office again where he and his wife were made to sign a sale deed in favour of the former Minister, on behalf of the party. The deed was registered without paying any compensation, it was alleged.
After a preliminary investigation, Mr. Nehru was taken into custody by police from his house at Thillai Nagar. He was produced before Judicial Magistrate IV Pushparani. He along with Mr. Periyasamy and Mr.Sundarajalu, owner of a textile retail outlet in the city, were remanded to custody till September 8. They were sent to the Cuddalore Central Prison.
As the news spread, a sizeable gathering of DMK supporters raised slogans against the government for foisting cases at the Armed Reserve Complex and also at the Magistrate's house. They attempted to block the police vehicle in which Mr.Nehru was being taken. Mr.Nehru stepped down from the vehicle to pacify the party men.
Four other accused, Mr.Anbazhagan, Mr.Kudamuritti Sekar, Sheriff and Mamundi were also taken into custody.
A.Soundarapandian, sitting DMK MLA representing Lalgudi, Mr.Ramajeyam, Tamilmaran and Tamilselvan, are the others cited as accused in the case.
A case has been registered under Sections 147 (rioting); 447 (criminal trespass); 363 (kidnapping); 342 (wrongful confinement); 325 (causing grievous hurt); 387 (causing fear of death or grievous hurt in order to commit extortion); 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation) and 392 (robbery) read with 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
