Four remand prisoners of the Vellore Central Prison for Men created a scene by refusing to appear before the magistrate on the premises of the Tirupattur Combined Court Complex for more than an hour from 5 pm on Thursday, for a hearing in a robbery case.
According to police, Naveen of Krishnagiri, Veera Raghavan of Velakalnatham, Suresh Kumar of Natrampalli and Sathyaraj of Pudupettai were arrested by Natrampalli police a year ago in connection with a highway robbery case and lodged in prison. They were brought to the Judicial Magistrate Court-IV for a hearing in the case.
Upon reaching the court, Naveen alleged that police had taken away Rs 22,000 from him during a recent raid at the prison. He claimed that he had kept the money for his bail plea, according to sources in the Tirupattur town police station. He also threw packets of ganja and some SIM cards, which he claimed were bought from prison personnel. “He also alleged that prison personnel were selling these banned items inside the prison,” said a police officer and added that this was the second time they had created a ruckus at the court.
Naveen refused to appear before the court alleging that police did not file a chargesheet in the robbery case, which delayed his bail, and was joined by the other prisoners. Naveen took a blade from his pocket and slashed his chest and left hand. Police pacified Naveen and took him to the GH.
Later, he was produced before Magistrate Prakash who advised him against such actions. Naveen was taken back to the central prison. Following the incident, Tirupattur Town Police registered a case against the four.