CHENNAI: Poes Garden witnessed a high drama on Sunday as Deepa Jayakumar, tried to enter ‘Veda Nilayam’, the residence of her aunt the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, but was denied entry triggering tension and protests.
Deepa, who had been keeping a low profile after ambitiously floating her own outfit MGR Amma Deepa Peravai claiming rights to the late leader’s legacy, made a visit to Poes Garden taking everyone by surprise.
She fumed against those who barred her from entering the sprawling bungalow, where Jayalalithaa stayed till her end, and was unsparing against her brother Deepak. “I came here to garland my aunt’s portrait only after Deepak repeatedly called me over phone. But the people here did not permit me to step into the house,” she told reporters.
Deepa alleged that her husband Madhavan was assaulted by private guards employed at the residence. A video circulated on social media showed her pouring scorn against Deepak.
A large contingent of police personnel was deployed in the area immediately to defuse the situation.
Scores of supporters of Deepa gathered at Poes Garden and resorted to a stir protesting against deputy general secretary of AIADMK TTV Dhinakaran for denying entry to Jayalalithaa’s niece who said she would lodge a complaint with the police regarding the attack on her and husband Madhavan.
Later, they burnt an effigy of Dhinakaran near Deepa’s residence at T Nagar.
Journalists attacked
Two journalists belonging to a English news channel were allegedly attacked by private guards at Veda Nilayam when they tried to videograph the incidents.
Protesting against the attack and demanding immediate arrest of the assailants, scores of journalists resorted to a ‘road roko’. They gave up the stir only after top police officials assured them of action.