OPS’ supporter moves HC to arrest EPS’ men in HQ violence case

CHENNAI: AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam’s supporter and former legislator JCD Prabhakar on Tuesday approached the Madras High Court for a direction to arrest the supporters of former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami for allegedly involved in the violence near the AIADMK party head office on July 11.

Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan who took the matter for the hearing had directed the police to file their response to the plea moved by Prabhakar.

The petitioner submitted that he lodged a complaint with Royapettah police against the EPS’ supporters who allegedly hurled bottles and stones toward OPS while he was proceeding to the headquarters. However, the police did not file an FIR in his complaint. Prabhakar prayed for a direction to transfer the case from Royapettah police to CB-CID.

“The respondents though received the complaint on July 25, have not taken any steps to investigate the matter and have not made any progress. However, the respondents filed an FIR registered on August 13 against myself and other members of the party for the incident that happened on July 11 based on the complaint made by C Ve Shanmugam,” the petitioner submitted.

OPS' supporter also noted that Chennai district secretaries of AIADMK, including T Nagar Sathya, Adhi Rajaram and VN Ravi, had orchestrated the violence.

Recording the submissions, the judge ordered notice to DGP and Chennai city police commissioner to file their response on September 19.

Earlier in the day, a petition filed by former law minister C Ve Shanmugam was also heard by the judge. Shanmugam informed the court that the police are not taking any stringent action against OPS and his supporters in the headquarters violence case and wanted to shift the case to some other investigation agency other than the city police.

Police submitted that they have collected CCTV evidence and investigations are undergoing properly. E Raj Thilak, Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the police would submit the status report on September 19.