Cases registered against Sasikala, Edappadi Palaniswami on charges of ‘kidnap’ of MLAs

15 February, Chennai

Cases of kidnap and criminal intimidationwere registered against AIADMK General Secretary Sasikala and Tamil Nadu Minister and newly elected Legislature Party leader Edappadi Palaniswami.

Following a complaint from Madurai South MLA Saravanan, who said he had escaped from the resort at Koovathur, where the MLAs were ‘housed’, and joined the rival camp headed by Chief Minister Panneerselvam, the Koovathur police registered cases under various sections of the IPC, including 366 (kidnapping) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation).
Reports said cases were also registered under Secs 342, 343,365 and 353 of the IPC.

Acting on the complaint, in which he said the MLAs were forciblykept in the resort and that he was ‘kidnapped’, senior police officials, including Kancheepuram District SP Mutharasi, visited the resort and held inquiries with the MLAs.

After withdrawing the police force from the resort following oppositionby the AIADMK men, heavy police pickets, including Swift Action Force,was re-deployed in and around the resort.

Senior AIADMK leaders and some MLAs claimed that they were notforcibly detained and that they were staying on their own, and blamed Panneerselvam for trying to create confusion leading to law and order issues. They also accused him of misusing his powers.

Alleging that the police raids into the resort were initiated by theChief Minister, Radhapuram MLA Inbadurai told reporters that police were also insisting the legislators to leave the resort immediately.

However, police sources said persons other than MLAs, who were also lodged, were asked to go out.