TVK cadre, crane operator arrested for using crane to garland Vijay during Vellore visit

A 38-year-old cadre of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and a crane operator were arrested by Pallikonda police on Tuesday for attempting to garland actor and TVK president Vijay using a crane during his visit to Vellore on Monday.

Police said the arrested persons were identified as G. Ellumalai, 38, TVK cadre and a ward councillor of Thattimanapalli village near Gudiyatham, and T. Muni Rathinam, 54, a crane operator from K.V. Kuppam.

Initial inquiry revealed that Vijay travelled from Chennai to Agaramcheri village near Pallikonda toll plaza on Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway (NH-48) to attend the party office bearers and functionaries conference on February 23 (Monday).

Police said, as Vijay’s convoy was on its way to the venue on the service lane of the National Highway, TVK cadre attempted to present a large garland using the boom of a hydraulic mobile crane at the junction of Vettuvanam village. The crane boom was hoisted and extended over hundreds of people gathered on the road. Seeing the garland suspended in mid-air using the crane, duty police personnel, who were deployed for Vijay’s event, stopped the vehicle from proceeding towards his convoy.

Subsequently, Pallikonda police registered a case against the duo under section 281 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 (punishing rash or negligent driving/riding on public ways that endangers human life), Section 125 ( reckless driving, mishandling machinery, or endangering public safety), Section 292 (public nuisance), Section 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace), and Section 353 (public mischief). They were arrested and lodged at Central Prison in Vellore. Further probe is under way.