The Madras High Court on Monday ordered the arrest of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) HM Jairam and criticized Kilwithinakappam (SC) MLA ‘Puvai’ M Jagan Murthy for “misusing his political power” regarding the kidnapping of a teenager.
Justice P. Velmurugan directed the Tamil Nadu Police to take the ADGP into custody and proceed according to the law, commenting that public servants like Jairam were “accountable to the public” and a strong message should go out that “no one is above the law”. Jairam was arrested after the court came out of the building.
The court, which was hearing Jagan Murthy’s anticipatory bail plea in the afternoon session, refrained the MLA from giving any relief and instead directed him to cooperate fully with the investigation. The judge warned that strict action would be followed if the MLA failed to do so.
Justice Velmurugan took the MLA to work to prevent the police from performing their duty and to work to gather supporters. The judge said, “You are not an ordinary person. You have to face things against you. You are behaving like a third class person.”
“Already, police and ministers have a tie-up. When will you work for people? You should be a role model for citizens. When you are misusing your strength and support, the court may not be a silent spectator,” said the judge.
“Tell people what their votes are doing. The right time to know is that the democratic country is in a very bad situation. 70,000 people have voted for you, have trusted you. Have they voted in power to keep you kangaroo courts?”
The court was responding to the details shared by Additional Public Prosecutor A Damodaran, who said that an 18 -year -old boy in Thiruvallur district was abducted on 10 May. The boy was allegedly abducted by a group seeking information about his elder brother, who married a young woman from Thei district against the wishes of his family.
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The judge chose the MLA to use political muscle to block a valid investigation. Justice Velmurugan said, “… Why are your supporters coming on this matter? Is this politics? If this happens in future, action should be taken against supporters.”
The case has been filed against a group of men who were allegedly entered their house in Kalambakkam in search of their elder son in Kalambakkam. He allegedly kidnapped the younger son when the elder brother could not find anywhere. The kidnappers allegedly presented as police officers and later dropped the boy near a hotel in a vehicle belonging to ADGP Jairam, the woman said in her complaint.
The police have so far arrested five persons, including the woman’s father, her two relatives Manikandan and Ganesan (from all thei), a lawyer, a lawyer named Sarathkumar and Maheshwari. All of them have allegedly confessed to acting under the instructions of the MLA. The police informed the court that `7.5 lakhs were recovered from the accused and the minor was injured during the kidnapping.
Tension increased over the weekend when a DSP -led team Andersonpet reached the MLA’s residence in Thiruvallur district. Jagan Murthy allegedly fled from the spot, while hundreds of his supporters tried to stop the police officers and blocked the reach to their home. MLA, who is the president of the Dalit outfit Purchi Bharm, is an AIADMK associate, unattainable. Fifteen special teams are looking for him, and police believe that he can try to cross in the neighboring state.
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Opposition leader Edappi’s Palaniswami condemned the attempt to arrest, called it “a task of political vengeance” and accused the DMK government of targeting the coalition partners of forcing them to present them. But the court said on Monday, “… If two people are getting married, let them get married. If there is any case, let it go to the police and courts. You are telling people wrongly.”
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