Former DMK Minister arrested in land grabbing case

Tiruchirappalli (TN), Aug 25: Former Transport Minister and senior DMK leader KN Nehru was arrested here today (Aug 25) in connection with a land grabbing case, police said.

Nehru, known to be a loyalist of DMK Treasurer M K Stalin, becomes the third minister in the previous DMK regime to be taken into custody in the continuing crackdown by the AIADMK government on land grabbing. The other two being Veerapandi S Arumugam and N K K P Raja.

Nehru was arrested along with party functionary Anbil Periasamy, Police Commissioner Masanamuthu told PTI.

He said as per a complaint by K.Srinivasan of Turaiyur near here, Nehru had allegedly taken 13290 sqft of his land at Chinamani in Tiruchi for construction of DMK party office, by forcibly obtaining his signature and "misusing" official power.

His aged father had also been beaten up badly in the process, Masanamuthu, quoting the complaint, said.

Two other DMK men, including a Textile businessman, were being questioned in connection with the case. The complainant said he had not been paid even a paise after the land was taken over by Nehru.

The commissioner said city Deputy Mayor Anbazhagan, allegedly involved in the case, was absconding for the past few days and police were searching for him.

Nehru, who is also party's district secretary, and Periyasamy have been detained at the K K Nagar Police Station for interrogation, he said.

Besides Nehru and Periyasamy, cases have also been filed against six others including Nehru's brother Ramajayam and former MLA Rani. Of the six, one person is already in prison under the Goondas Act.

There are totally 11 accused in the case. A part of a Wakf property also had allegedly been taken up for construction of the DMK office.However Nehru had claimed that the said property had been taken on lease,and rent was being paid to the Wakf board.

Chepauk constituency MLA J Anbazhagan, former MLA Ranganathan, his aide, and supporters of Union Minister M K Alagiri, have already been arrested in connection with land grab charges.

The state government had formed a special cell to exclusively deal with the land grabbing cases.

The crackdown is the result of an electoral promise made by Jayalalithaa during the April 13 assembly polls that she would take action against land grabbing during DMK rule.

PTI