Man held for allegedly threatening realtor

CHENNAI: Mylapore police arrested a 53-year-old man on the charges of threatening a realtor and demanding Rs 50 lakh not to spread ‘falsehood’ about the latter’s firm.

The accused M Kevin of Kovilambakkam was booked under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 147 (rioting), 294 (b) (foul language), 384 (extortion), and 506 (2) (criminal intimidation). The first information report also has the names of a YouTuber and a political commentator, and reporter, editor and other stakeholders of a particular Tamil magazine.

The case has been registered based on a complaint from the company's Chief Compliance Officer, who alleged that Kevin harassed his employer over the phone demanding Rs 50 lakh not to publish defamatory articles in the magazine, linking their company to Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son-in- law Sabareesan.

A police officer, speaking to DT Next, said Kevin allegedly demanded Rs 50 lakh per month and threatened the employers that he would spread falsehood through the forementioned YouTuber and political commentator through their social media handles to an extent that they would be pushed to commit suicide.

“Since we had some prima facie evidence against the accused, a case was registered and Kevin was arrested. Further action would be based on investigation,” added the officer.

Kevin was allegedly picked up from his house in the wee hours of Sunday, a day after the complaint was lodged at Mylapore police station. Mobile phones of Kevin and his family members, laptops, and pen drives were seized by police, though the latter did not confirm it.

After being questioned at Marina police station, he was produced before a magistrate in Saidapet and remanded in judicial custody.

Kevin allegedly sought Rs 50L/month for not publishing defamatory articles through social media handles to an extent that they would be pushed to end life.