Stalin booked for violating ban

The Tamil Nadu police have registered a case against DMK chief M Karunanidhi's younger son M K Stalin for violating ban orders by unveiling a statue of his party leader Veerapandi Arumugam.

Police headquarters sources here said Stalin, who inaugurated the statue at Salem district, and others have been booked under the Indian Penal Code for various offences including disobedience to order promulgated by public servant, punishment for unlawful assembly and obstruction in public way.

The installation of the statue of Arumugam, a former DMK minister, at the entrance of the DMK’s office here ran into controversy after the Salem Corporation rejected permission to inaugurate it.

However, after approaching the Madras High Court, which stayed the Commissioner’s order for two weeks on Friday last, DMK went to unveil the statue.

Meanwhile, Salem Police Commissioner K C Mahali contented that court had only stayed the corporation’s order and the petitioner had not obtained any court order to inaugurate the statute.

Reacting to the registration of the case, Stalin told reporters that there were a number of “false” cases against DMK members pending in various courts.

“We will meet the challenge legally,” he said.

DMK District Secretary incharge S R Sivalingam, T M Selvaganapathy, MP, former MLA Raja, former Mayor Rekapriyadarshini are among those booked by police.