EPS booked for alleged assault on AMMK functionary in Madurai

MADURAI: A day after an AMMK functionary was allegedly beaten up on the premises of Madurai airport after he made comments critical of AIADMK interim general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, Avaniyapuram police in Madurai city on Sunday filed a case against Leader of Opposition Palaniswami and five others of the AIADMK.

EPS landed at Madurai airport on Saturday morning to address a rally in Sivaganga. The AMMK functionary Rajeswaran (42) travelled along with EPS on the flight. While taking the airport bus, he shouted at EPS, accusing him of being a traitor to VK Sasikala, the ousted AIADMK leader. A video camera caught it all and it went viral on social media later. However, the AIADMK men, who accompanied EPS, dragged him out of the airport and handed him over to the police for action, sources said.

Based on a complaint by the AMMK functionary, the police filed a case against Leader of Opposition Palaniswami, his personal security officer Krishnan, PR Senthilnathan, Sivaganga MLA, M Manikandan, former IT Minister, son of former Agriculture Minister Agri Krishnamurthy and another unnamed person under Sections 341, 294 (b), 323, 392 and 506 (1) of IPC read with 109 of IPC.

The Avaniyapuram police also filed a case against the AMMK functionary under Sections 341 and 294 (b) of IPC based on a complaint by RB Udhayakumar, Tirumangalam MLA, sources said.

AIADMK MLA Sellur K Raju (Madurai West) on Sunday condemned the police action, describing it as totally biased against his party leader Palaniswami. Talking to reporters in Madurai, Raju said the AMMK functionary is a criminal and he used abusive language against EPS, who maintained calm despite the menacing situation. Instead of taking action against Rajeswaran, the police booked a case against Palaniswami on charges foisted upon him.

The incident happened in morning hours and the police should have filed a case in the evening or else at night, but the police deliberated for hours together in the late night and filed a false case against EPS to tarnish his image. Such acts by the police clearly indicated the political ill will of CM MK. Stalin led DMK rule, he added.

Such a biased action by the police was taken to the knowledge of higher authorities, including the Home Secretary and the Director General of Police for action.

The AIADMK would stage a massive protest at Palanganatham in Madurai on Monday, condemning it. No such incident has happened in political history, so far, he added.