'Arrests made only on specific police complaints'

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, MAY 31. The arrests of politicians made in the last few days were based only on specific complaints, received by the police, the City Police Commissioner, Mr. K. Muthukaruppan said today.

Addressing the media here, he said the arrests followed specific complaints from aggrieved persons and action was taken. He said there would be no more arrests in the case of kidnap of the engineering contractor, Mr. Deivasigamani, in which the Chennai Mayor, Mr. M. K. Stalin has also been implicated.

Opposition parties have described the arrests of Opposition leaders and MLAs made in the last couple of days as ``politically motivated''. Denying the allegations, the Commissioner said the police were not initiating action against anybody following complaints from political parties. All the arrests were made only with a view to putting an end to rowdyism and its other forms such as `Katta Panchayat', he said.

Asked whether security measures were being intensified in the city to control violence by the Opposition parties, in the event of Mr. Stalin being arrested, the Commissioner, said ``I cannot answer speculation''.

When the scribes wanted to know why the police denied permission to the DMK for holding a meeting to mark the birthday of its president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, the Commissioner said that in October last a public interest litigation petition was filed by one Mr. Ravikumar. ``The case is still pending with the court and so we are not allowing anyone to hold a meeting at Panagal Park here''.

On the incident two days ago at the Egmore courts where the DMK MLA, Mr. Parithi Ilamvazhuthi was ``pushed down by police'' (the Court had directed the police to initiate action against the officer concerned), Mr. Muthukaruppan said he had not received the orders. ``As and when it comes, action will be taken'', he said.

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Section  : Southern States
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