Stunt actor held in shoot out incident

Chennai, May 12 (UNI) The city police have arrested a film stunt actor in connection with a shoot out incident here in which an employee of Integral Coach Factory (ICF) was injured on April 14.

Police said the actor Pushpraj (35), who had acted in several films, including Rajnikant's forthcoming mega film 'Sivaji', was the brain behind the incident. He was remanded to judicial custody.

Police had already arrested two persons in connection with the incident, and suspected that an illicit relationship was the reason behind the attempt to murder the ICF employee.

It may be recalled that Ahmed Basha, the employee, was returning from a gym when a bid was made on his life. It is said Basha had an illicit relationship with the wife of one Kumaran for several years.

It is said that Kumaran had warned Basha on many occasions.

But he had not paid any heed to him. It is in this scenario that Kumaran had decided to kill Basha using the services of two professional killers.

The arrested were identified as Madhan and Edwin. They were arrested based on the confessions made by Kumaran, who had surrendered before a court in Kallakurichi recently.

Police said Kumaran had been planning to bump off Basha.Last year, he had made an abortive bid and added subsequently, Basha worked on a master plan with the help of a gang.

Police said when Basha was returning from the gym, two persons Anil and Madhan came on a bike carrying a country-made pistol and a dagger. They accosted Basha and shot at him. Basha sustained bullet injuries in his thigh. Later, he was rushed to Kilpauk Hospital, where he was still undergoing treatment.

The police had seized the pistol and the motorcycle used by the accused, police added.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused Madhan was involved in 11 other criminal cases in Nagercoil.

UNI