The Chinnamanoor police arrested R. Velmurugan, 46, a former police head constable, on charges of cheating and breach of trust and under the Representation of the People Act in connection with a plaque installed in a private temple, where the designation of the AIADMK’s Theni candidate O.P. Raveendranath Kumar, son of Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, was mentioned as “Lok Sabha MP”.
The police said the accused had installed the plaque without the knowledge of the AIADMK candidate.
With the image of the plaque being shared widely on social media platforms and drawing criticism from Opposition parties, P. Chandrasekaran, chief election agent of Mr. Raveendranath, lodged a complaint, following which Theni SP V. Baskaran directed the Chinnamanoor police to register a case. In his complaint, he stated that neither the candidate nor the Deputy CM had any idea about the plaque or the information contained therein.
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The police then questioned Velmurugan and arrested him. He was produced before a judicial magistrate’s court and remanded in judicial custody.
A police officer said the accused, while in service, carried out various actions to display his loyalty to Jayalalithaa.
He had also performed stunts like jumping off a helicopter and pulling a car. Subsequently, he was dismissed from service.
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