CHENNAI: PMK leader A K Moorthy, former MLA Shanmugam and 100 others were booked under several sections of the IPC in connection with a violence at St Thomas Mount on Friday. Police officials said they were booked under sections 147,148, 332, 333 and 506/2 for charges including rioting, assaulting and preventing government officials from doing their duty, besides causing hurt and grievous injuries to them.
The incidents occurred when the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) officials tried to seal a property on Butt Road at Thomas Mount as per a court order. The 18-ground land and a building, owned by Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple in St Thomas Mount and coming under the HR&CE Board, was given on lease to Sumanthagamani in 1989. The monthly rent was fixed at Rs 400. But the tenant did not pay it. Instead, the property was given to a third party. Thus, the place became the State headquarters of Vanniyar Sangam.
P R Shampath, HR&CE Commissioner, told Express that a case was filed in the Alandur sub-court as early as in 1991 (OS No 142 of 1991) to reclaim the 39,582 sq-ft property. “After a long drawn out legal battle, we won it. An eviction order was obtained. But, our officials, who went there to execute it, were attacked by PMK men led by AK Moorthy. The seal that was fixed was broken. So, we lodged a complaint with the police.”
In a related development, the Hindu Religious &Charitable Endowments Department told the Alandur court through a representation that it was unable to execute the eviction order and sought a new one. The PMK sources said they have filed a petition in the same court challenging the validity of the eviction order (A case on the same issue is pending in the Madras High Court). The case has been adjourned to August 9.