MADURAI: Investigation into a caste discrimination case has shown yet another face of a panchayat president in the district.
The panchayat president and his associates were involved in highway robberies in neighbouring Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh for many years, say police.
Ironically, the complainant’s husband is also part of the gang.
The case pertained to the complaint of one Chithra, wife of Thangaraj from Panniyan in Checkanurani, that Ganeshan, panchayat president of Kosavapatti, had abused by her caste while asking for returning the commercial vehicle she had lent him.
According to police, Ganeshan hired a mini truck from Chithra for transportation in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Kartnataka.
The Karnataka police discovered recently that the vehicle was being used in highway robberies.
Yellapur police in Uttara Kannada district registered a case of cigarette bundle robbery from a lorry in their jurisdiction against seven persons including Ganeshan, a resident of Madurai district, who had used Chithra’s vehicle to carry out the robbery.
Yellapur police visited Madurai district and then arrested three persons from Checkanurani and seized the mini truck with help from the rural police.
However, when Chithra asked for her vehicle, Ganeshan refused to oblige and abused her. She then lodged a complaint by post, police said.
Meanwhile, further investigation showed that Ganeshan and Chithra’s husband Thangaraj had been involved in highway robberies for many years.
Their gang robbed goods from moving lorries or hijacked them.
The stolen goods ranged from cigarettes to home appliances.