Arappor Iyakkam treasurer held for casteist remarks

“Police visited Nakkeeran’s house in Maduravoyal around 4.30 am on Thursday and took him to Royala Nagar police station. From there, he was allegedly taken to Central Crime Branch office at City Police Commissionerate and produced at Poonamallee Court before being lodged in Puzhal central prison,” movement’s coordinator Jayaram Venkatesan said. 

He has been booked under the IPC Sections 142 (Unlawful Assembly), 143 (Punishment for unlawful assembly), 146 (Rioting), 147 (Punishment for rioting), 504 (Intent to provoke breach of peace) among others. 

Nakkeeran has been arrested based on a complaint by Kumar, a PMK functionary. According to the complainant, Nakkeeran referred to PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss in a derogatory manner, apart from ridiculing state Minister P Benjamin at an event called ‘Coffee with MLA’ organised by Arappor Iyakkam along with a few welfare associations in the locality on October 28. 

However, Jayaram said the entire event has been videographed and nowhere Nakkeeran has made such a mention. “When the event took place, Kumar in an inebriated 

state tried to interrupt it and cops posted there including inspector Nagaraj sent him away. 

However, the same inspector has booked Nakkeeran based on the complaint by Kumar due to pressure from the higher-ups,” he said. 

Arappor Iyakkam recently stopped the expansion of Kalachathamman temple encroaching upon the adjacent 36-ft road, which has irked the politicians in the temple construction committee behind it leading to arrest of Nakkeeran, said Jayaram. 

“Since the temple posed a major traffic hindrance, Arappor Iyakkam stopped the construction through proper channels. But the politicians, who are part of the temple committee, cutting across party lines, were angry over the development and try to threaten the public with such measures,” said Jayaram. 

Jayaraman added that Coffee with MLA was second such event organised by Arappor Iyakkam and they had invited Minister Benjamin on October 27 to participate at the event, though he could not make it. 

“We are not deterred by the arrest. We are planning to stage a protest demanding the release of Nakkeeran and seeking action against Nagaraj who filed a false case despite having been present at event,” he said.