SALEM: Former Agriculture Minister Veerpandi S Arumugam may be arrested in a case of defamatory speech against Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on the lines of former Minister for Higher Education Ponmudy.An AIADMK advocate A B Manikandan on Saturday lodged a complaint with the DGP alleging that the ex-minister made defamatory remarks against the CM at a press meet on April 9. The lawyer of Vijayalakshmi, survivor and daughter of retired inspector Kuppuraj, who was one of the deceased in the ‘six of a family murder case’ in Salem, Manikandan in April this year submitted a complaint to the then Collector J Chandrakumar, to the SP and the then DGP with video evidence of Arumugam making defamatory statements against Jayalalithaa and late chief minister MGR in a press meet on April 9.The press brief was held a day after Jayalalitha’s campaign in Salem in which she pinpointed Veerpandi Arumguam and promised to take action against politicians, who grabbed lands.Manikandan pointed out that the ex-minster’s remarks were not only defamatory, but also violated the Election Code. However, as no action was taken. The issue was put on the back burner till date.While the HC granted a conditional bail to Veerpandi Arumugam on Friday, the latest complaint from Manikandan may lead to the rearrest of the former Minister in this case and his release from jail may again be stalled.
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