The Coimbatore Rural Police on Friday arrested Eravanan, a relative of Sasikala (former aide of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa) on various charges, including cheating. He was arrested along with his Personal Assistant Mohan.
Eravanan was recently expelled from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) along with several others.
Eravanan was picked up by the police late on Thursday night and taken to a police station on the outskirts of the city and questioned. By dawn, he was shifted to another police station on the outskirts of the city.
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The police formally confirmed around noon on Friday that Eravanan had been arrested by the District Crime Branch on charges of trespass, abduction for ransom, wrongful confinement, extortion and criminal intimidation besides criminal conspiracy.
Superintendent of Police – Coimbatore Rural District, E.S. Uma said that a contractor, V. Ravikumar of Kitchagathiyur in Sirumugai, appeared before the SP on Thursday and preferred a complaint. In his complaint, Ravikumar stated that a person identifying himself as Mohan, Personal Assistant of Eravanan came to his house in May 2011 and summoned him to the house of Eravanan. Ravikumar along with his friend Paramesh Kumar reportedly went to the house of Eravanan.
On reaching the house, Ravikumar said that Eravanan directed him to part with Rs.10 lakh for continuing his contract works in the panchayat. When questioned, Eravanan and his associates threatened him of dire consequences, Ravikumar stated in his complaint. Threats seeking Rs.10 lakh continued over phone.
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Ravikumar, in his complaint added: “On October 9, 2011 at 10 a.m., Mohan along with few persons entered my house and threatened me to leave the house immediately for meeting Eravanan. I was forcibly bundled into a car and taken to the house of Eravanan on Tiruchi Road for the second time, where I was beaten up and threatened by henchmen wielding dangerous weapons”. He said he was kept at an oil mill belonging to Eravanan.
Around 5 p.m., on the same day, Ravikumar was reportedly released only after Paramesh Kumar paid the Rs.10 lakh demanded by Eravanan and his men. “I was threatened and let off with a warning that I should not complain about the incident to anyone”.
Police said that the victim, who remained silent all these days, mustered courage to prefer a complaint after the expulsion of Eravanan from the AlADMK. A case has now been registered against Eravanan and Mohan under sections 449 (trespass), 364 A (abduction for ransom), 342 (wrongful confinement), 386 (extortion), 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation) and 120 B (conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code. Eravanan was produced before the magistrate at Mettuppalayam on Friday night. Eravanan and Mohan were remanded in judicial custody till February 10.
Police are also probing complaints against Eravanan in Coimbatore City, one each in Coimbatore Rural, Tirupur and Erode districts. There are charges of Eravanan's men intimidating a land owner to sell his land at a throwaway price, and cheating a businessman to the tune of several lakhs promising quarry contract. An AIADMK former district functionary from the Nilgiris was killed in an accident on Avanashi Road recently and the family had raised doubts over the accident suspecting foul play. Police are probing to find whether Eravanan's men had any role.