Former ADMK Minister Manikandan, who has been in judicial custody under the charges of rape and cheating, has been shifted to the Puzhal Central Prison in the outskirts of Chennai from Saidapet prison, where he was lodged since being arrested. Manikandan was arrested based on a complaint filed by a Tamil actress alleging that he had cheated her by refusing to marry her. 

A 32-year-old Tamil actress had lodged a complaint against Manikandan by stating that the latter had been in a live-in relationship with her for over five years and promised to marry her. He had made her pregnant three times and forced her to abort the fetus all three times. The actress claimed that Manikandan had cheated on her and refused to marry her as he promised. He had intimidated her not to open up their relationship by threatening her that he will release her private photos. 

She had filed a complaint against Manikandan on May 28 and based on her complaint, the Adyar All-Women Police station has registered a case against the former ADMK Minister under sections 376- rape, 313- causing miscarriage without women's consent, 323 -punishment for voluntarily causing hurt, 417- punishment for cheating, and 506(i) - criminal intimidation of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act. 

After knowing that a case has been filed, Manikandan had gone absconded post which the Chennai police had formed special teams and launched the manhunt to arrest him. After incessant search and investigations, the special team of the Chennai police had arrested Manikandan on June 20 in Bengaluru, where he was hiding at his friend's residence. 

Following the arrest, Manikandan was brought to Chennai, produced before a Magistrate court after which he was sent to judicial custody till July 2 for further investigations in connection to the rape and cheating charges. He was lodged in the Saidapet prison and on Tuesday, he was shifted to Puzhal Central Prison. The sudden shifting has come three days ahead of the completion of his judicial custody.

According to reports, Manikandan was found to be having a luxurious life behind the bars. When the prison officials in the Saidapet prison inspected the cells, Manikandan had an air conditioner, furniture, and mobile charging units inside the prison due to which the former minister was shifted to Puzhal prison. 

The reports notified the officials quoting that the inquiries are underway to identify the policemen who provided luxurious facilities for the former minister. On the other hand, it has also been reported that Manikandan was shifted to Puzhal prison on the drive of shifting the inmates from the overcrowded prisons to other correctional facilities in light of the COVID-19 pandemic spread in the prisons.