Madras High Court summons MLA ‘Poovai’ Jagan Moorthy, ADGP Jayaram after they turn out to be suspects in an abduction case

‘Poovai’ M. Jagan Moorthy | Photo Credit: X / @jaganmoorthy_m

The Madras High Court on Monday (June 16, 2025) summoned Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) ‘Poovai’ M. Jagan Moorthy and Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H.M. Jayaram after a shocking revelation was made in the court that they both were suspected to have connived together to abduct a youngster.

Justice P. Velmurugan ordered that the MLA from Puratchi Bharatham party, who contested in AIADMK symbol and got elected from Kilvaithinakuppam reserved constituency in Vellore district during the 2021 Assembly polls, and the ADGP must be present in the court at 2:30 pm on June 16. He also warned that the Tiruvalangadu police in Tiruvallur district, probing the abduction case, would be directed to arrest both of them if they fail to appear before the court by afternoon.

The direction was issued during the hearing of an anticipatory bail petition filed by the MLA. senior counsel S. Prabakaran, representing the petitioner, claimed that his client had absolutely nothing to do with the abduction case and yet, the police were keen on arresting and subjecting him to custodial interrogation.

On the other hand, Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) A. Damodaran told the court that the abduction case had been booked on the basis of a complaint lodged by one Lakshmi whose elder son had fallen in love with a woman from Theni district and performed a self-respect marriage with the latter last month.

The young woman’s father Vanaraja had sought the assistance of Maheshwari, a former woman police constable who had been removed from service, to break the marriage and take his daughter back home. The former constable had spoken to the ADGP who, in turn, had taken the issue to the MLA.

The APP claimed that the MLA’s henchmen had gone to Lakshmi’s residence in order to abduct her 22-year-old elder son but since he was not at home, they ended up abducting the 18-year-old younger son who was sleeping on the terrace. The victim was taken away by a gang that travelled in two cars.

Subsequently, when the police began a search for the youngster, the ADGP’s official car was used to drop the youngster back near a bus stand and it was driven by a police constable in order to avoid checking. Maheshwari and Vanaraja too had travelled in that official car used by the ADGP, the APP told the court.

Mr. Damodaran also said that the police had so far arrested five accused including Maheshwari, Vanaraja and advocate Sarathkumar belonging to the MLA’s Puratchi Bharatham party.

The APP said, the party advocate as well as the former police constable had confessed to the crime and their statements clearly talk about the involvement of the MLA in the crime. He said, so far ₹7.5 lakh had been recovered from the accused and that only a custodial interrogation would reveal more details.

When the judge wanted to know why the ADGP had not been arrested so far, the APP said, the Tiruvallur police want to arrest the MLA first and subject him to custodial interrogation before taking action against the ADGP. He also said, the MLA gathered around 2,000 supporters and prevented the police from arresting him.

Justice Velmurugan said, the practice of political cadres preventing the police from discharging their duty would stop only if the police press charges of criminal conspiracy and abetment against every other supporter who gather outside the residence of politicians and prevent lawful exercise of duty.

He said, further orders would be passed on the anticipatory bail petition after the MLA and the ADGP appears before the court in the afternoon.

Published - June 16, 2025 12:59 pm IST