AIADMK functionaries held for scuffle over nominations in Tirupattur

Five AIADMK functionaries were arrested by Natrampalli police in Tirupattur on Tuesday for a scuffle against a group of persons, who objected to verification of nomination papers that was filed by former AIADMK Minister K.C. Veeramani for Jolarpet Assembly constituency for Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The arrested persons were identified as K. Mahalingam, 60, S. Prabhu, 42, B. Susikaran, 39, R. Thirumurthy, 29, and N. Jayaprakash, 28. They are residents of Tirupattur and party functionaries in the area.

Initial inquiry revealed that along with party cadre and functionaries, Mr. Veeramani visited the taluk office in Natrampalli to know whether nominations papers filed by him were accepted by Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) for Jolarpet Assembly constituency.

Police said that G. Ramamurthy, a real estate dealer in Vellore, and his supporters came to the taluk office to record objections against scrutinisation of Mr. Veeramani’s nomination papers. Mr. Ramamurthy claimed that Mr. Veeramani has given an under-estimated value of his total assets in the affidavit filed by him.

Police said that as Mr. Veeramani restricted himself in the taluk office, supporters of the AIADMK leader reportedly hit Mr. Ramamurthy and his men in the the taluk office premises. Immediately, Natrampalli police who were deployed to prevent any untoward incidents during scrutiny of nomination papers, intervened and secured Mr. Ramamurthy.

Subsequently, Mr. Ramamurthy and his men were admitted at Government Taluk Hospital in Ambur town where doctors said that the condition is stable. A case was registered. A probe is under way.

It should be noted that Mr. Ramamurthy has lodged a complaint with EC in April 2021, claiming that the former AIADMK Minister had misrepresented his assets in the affidavit submitted to the EC to contest in the Assembly elections. The case is under trial at The Judicial Magistrate Court 1 in Tirupattur town.