DMK councillor arrested over controversial remark on Karur stampede

Puzhal police on Wednesday arrested Vellore DMK councillor ‘Teeta’ Saravanan after a video of him making a controversial remark about the Karur stampede went viral on social media.

Saravanan allegedly made the remark during a protest by DMK cadres on Monday night, when former DMK Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was being taken to Puzhal Central Prison following his arrest in a case involving the alleged collection of money from private school managements on the promise of securing government approval or recognition during the previous DMK regime.

In a video that went viral on social media, Saravanan was heard saying, “If we had finished him off at Karur on that day, we wouldn’t be in this situation today.” The remark was allegedly directed at TVK president and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, in an apparent reference to the stampede in Karur.

Puzhal police registered a case against Saravanan under Sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot), 296(b) (obscene acts and songs), 353(1) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 351(3) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Police launched a search for the councillor after he went on the run. He was eventually traced to the house of a DMK functionary in Villupuram, arrested and brought to Chennai, police sources said.

Meanwhile, Vepery police booked former DMK Minister Sekar Babu, MP Kalanidhi Veerasamy and 10 others for staging a protest outside the Police Commissioner’s office on Monday in connection with Mr. Poyyamozhi’s arrest and interrogation. Mr. Sekar Babu allegedly exchanged heated words with police officers during the protest.

The former minister and the others were booked for unlawful assembly and obstructing public servants from discharging their duties.