The Opposition AIADMK has filed a public interest litigation in the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court for a proper investigation into the attack on the Madurai office of Dinakaran newspaper, in which three persons were killed, as the prime suspect M K Azhagiri, is the son of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and is “functioning as an extra-constitutional authority”.
The petition, filed by AIADMK treasurer D Jayakumar, is likely to come up for hearing on Wednesday before a vacation bench.
In his petition, Mr Jayakumar has alleged that Mr Azhagiri “controls the entire administration of the southern districts” and has a decisive say in the appointment and transfer of collectors and top-ranking police officers.
Mr Jayakumar has cited the complaint filed by Dinakaran news editor Muthupandian on the attack on the newspaper’s office after it published a survey on Mr Karunanidhi’s political heir on May 9, which claimed that  Mr Azhagiri does not have support even in Madurai.
According to the complaint, three attacks took place in various spells or phases.
The first attack was made at 9.20 am under the leadership of Madurai Mayor Thenmozhi and her husband who came with a gang of 50 persons.
Thirty minutes thereafter, yet another group consisting of 10 persons came and indulged in violence.  The third attack was carried out by a gang of hoodlums under the leadership of one “Attack” Pandi who came with petrol cans, petrol bombs, long swords, knives, cycle chains, rods, sticks, etc.
They set fire to the office resulting in the death of three employees. The complainant said though the police were present in abundance, they did not take any action.
He further said that the police on their own registered three FIRs and did not register the complaint lodged by Mr Muthupandian.
The purpose of the “watered down complaint” preferred by the police was to make the offence appear mild and suppress the identity of persons involved in the crime and the role of Mr Azhagiri as a conspirator.
Police took no action for a whole day on large-scale looting, arson, murders and destruction of public and private properties, Mr Jayakumar said
He alleged that the assailants moved around in vehicles with the sticker “A” and DMK symbol exhibited in the front to indicate that they were followers of Mr Azhagiri.
The petitioner prayed for the direction to set up a body of men of integrity to monitor the maintenance of law and order and public tranquility in the southern districts.