Chennai and, of course, Tamil Nadu had spent the night hours of Monday with back to back bustling headlines of the arrest of former ADMK Minister Jayakumar, which reminisced the scenes of midnight arrest faced by political leaders including late Chief Minister Karunanidhi. The events that unfolded on Monday had become a spear for the opposition parties to attack the ruling DMK and the police for what they called the arrest due to political vendetta. 

The city was clouded with furore on Monday after a team of police entered the residence of Jayakumar in Pattinapakkam to apprehend him in connection to the allegation of harassing a DMK member and causing violence. The arrest has come two days after the conclusion of the urban local body polls in the state. According to reports, Jayakumar was accused of causing violence at the 49th ward in Washermenpet in Chennai after he alleged bogus voting by a DMK member named Mahesh in the ward. 

The visuals from the ward amid the polls had shown that Jayakumar and several ADMK functionaries had surrounded Mahesh and forced him to remove his shirt. Jayakumar was seen standing next to Mahesh and the latter's hands were tied and his shirt removed. The former minister and his aides were heard saying to Mahesh, 'Don't lie and tell us how many votes you have cast.' However, the reports have said that Mahesh has come to cast his vote at the polling booth. 

While the incident had triggered the allegations of harassment, ADMK joint coordinator Edappadi Palaniswami had backed Jayakumar's action and asked, "What's wrong in it?". Amid the video of Jayakumar and fellow ADMK cadres making Mahesh remove his shirt was going viral on social media, a case has been filed against Jayakumar and other ADMK cadres under ten sections of the Indian Penal Code. 

Our sources say that the charges against him include criminal intimidation, assault, verbal abuse, and rioting. After the case was registered, a team of around 30 to 40 police personnel had arrived at the residence of Jayakumar during the night hours of Monday. They stormed into the residence and during their attempt to arrest him, the police officials were castigated by his family members as they claimed that the officials didn't allow him to even change his dress. 

Speaking to a news agency, Jayakumar's wife has alleged that the police have foisted a case on him and they were acting on behalf of the DMK. She further said, "We were having dinner and around 30 to 40 police personnel had arrived. They opened the door and came inside. He (Jayakumar) was wearing a lungi and asked them for time to change. However, they didn't allow it, they took him away. What has he done? He stood against fake voting." 

In a video taken inside Jayakumar's residence, his son and former ADMK MP Jayavardhan was heard opposing the arrest and asked the police officials not to touch his father. Jayakumar was also seen arguing with the police officers. However, he was eventually taken by the police and moments later, a news channel has reported that there was no clarity on where the police are taking him. As the arrest had drawn major attention, the former ADMK Minister was taken to the Nungambakkam police station in Chennai, hours after arresting him. 

Jayakumar was later produced before the Egmore Magisterial Court for further investigations. After the hearing, Jayakumar was awarded judicial custody till March 7 and he has been lodged at the sub-jail in Poonamallee. Speaking to the reporters moments after his father's arrest, Jayakumar's son Jayavardhan said, "My father Jayakumar was arrested with the only motive of taking revenge. We don't know where the police have taken my father. If a former minister faces such a situation, what about the common people. People will teach a lesson to the ruling DMK and the DMK has no intention of doing good to the people." 

ADMK leader Edappadi Palaniswami has condemned the arrest. He has called the arrest highly reprehensible. Several ADMK cadres had begun protesting against the arrest by blocking the road and the BJP has also castigated the arrest. Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai said, "I strongly condemn the arrest of former ADMK Minister Jayakumar by the DMK government over its political grudge. It is ridiculous that it has arrested the person who curbed fake voting instead of arresting the people who cast it." It is pertinent to note that Jayakumar had served as the Minister of Fisheries in the previous ADMK regime and he also had served as the Assembly Speaker while Jayalalithaa was the Chief Minister. 

In this CCTV footage, former ADMK Minister Jayakumar was seen taking by the police officers after arresting him under the charges of rioting, assault, and criminal intimidation. #Jayakumar #JayakumarArrested #ADMK #DMK #TNPolice @thenewstuffin pic.twitter.com/NuQ3uRMKZd

— Alagu muthu eswaran (@AMeswaran) February 22, 2022