The Judicial Magistrate II remanded former agriculture minister and DMK district secretary Veerapandi S Arumugam, who was arrested in Chennai and brought here on Monday, and eight others in connection with an alleged arson at Angammal Colony on Saturday night.
Eight huts were razed in the fire that was allegedly started by 35 persons on Saturday midnight, said residents alleging that it was a fresh attempt to evict them.
The Salem city police arrested the ex minister in Chennai on Monday. The others were picked up in Salem on Monday. Cases were booked under 13 Sections against Veerapandi Arumugam and 20 others.
Other than Veerapandi Arumugam, the arrested include Panaimarathupatti Raja, Dhadhai Karthi, Jawahar of Annadhanapatti, Gunalan, Pettikadai Kanagaraj, Karikadai Perumal, Cellphone Sundaram and Palani Murugesan.
Cases have been booked under Sections 12O B, 147, 148, 447,448,341, 294B, 395,307, 436, 506 /2, 109 (*3) (!) of the IPC and TN Public Property Destruction Prevention Act.