AIADMK MLA Karunas arrested

Ruling AIADMK MLA S Karunas was arrested here Sunday over some alleged provocative remarks made at a recent public meeting against the chief minister and police.

The issue, however, prompted the Opposition, including the DMK, to question why police were not acting against BJP leaders H Raja and S Ve Shekher who are also facing a number of cases.

Karunas, also a well-known actor and founder of a small outfit, was picked up from his house Sunday morning by a special team, police said.

At a recent public meeting Karunas had reportedly made some remarks in relation to chief minister K Palaniswami and the police, besides some alleged caste related ones, drawing criticism from various quarters.

The actor, who aligned with AIADMK for the 2016 Assembly polls, was elected from Tiruvadanai constituency in Ramanathapuram district on an AIADMK ticket.

He had later met sidelined AIADMK leader and RK Nagar MLA TTV Dhinakaran, who has also floated his own Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), post his ouster from the AIADMK.

Responding to the police action against him, Karunas said he was not aware whether the Speaker P Dhanapal’s approval was taken prior to his arrest as is the requirement and charged the government with “denying freedom of expression.”

“I am ready to face the matter in the court,” he said.

DMK president MK Stalin as well as Dhinakaran said Karunas could have avoided making such remarks, but wondered why Raja and Shekher have not yet been arrested.

There was no doubt that elected representatives should “not exceed their limits” and they had the duty of ensuring public peace and harmony, Stalin said in a statement.

Karunas had, however, expressed regret for his utterances, the DMK chief said and sought to know why the MLA was still picked up.

“The rule of law is being selectively implemented in Tamil Nadu. Raja, who threatened to damage statues of Periyar and one who demeaned and defamed police, besides making remarks against spouses of temple administration staff, has not yet been arrested,” he said.

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