Arrested DMK MLA illegally made cartridges, Madras HC told

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government informed Madras high court on Wednesday that the arrested DMK MLA Idyavarman had been running an illegal unit to manufacture cartridges for rifles in his farmhouse in Chengalpet. The legislator was arrested in connection with a gun-firing incident in Illalur village near Mamallapuram over a property dispute.

“During a search conducted by police, ammunition and materials used for production have been seized besides unlicensed weapons. Therefore, a broader and deeper investigation has to be carried out to find out the source of the weapons and ammunition and whether he has connections with any prohibited agency/anti-social organisations/elements,” state public prosecutor A Natarajan said.

The prosecutor made the submission while opposing the bail application moved by the MLA.

Denying the allegations, senior advocate R Shanmugasundaram, representing the legislator, submitted that the prosecution is branding him as an anti-social element since he belongs to the opposition party.

“It is usual in rural areas to possess such guns which were used for hunting. Moreover, when a father is attacked it was natural for a son to go for his defence. The firing happened only as an act of self-defence,” the senior counsel said.

Opposing the contentions, Natarajan said, “Hunting is prohibited, how can the petitioner claim that the guns were used for hunting while his farm house is close to reserved forest.”

So far, police have recovered three weapons of which one is illegal and licences of other two have expired. The injuries suffered by the victim were so severe that he was in hospital for 25 days, he added.

Recording the submissions, Justice N Sathish Kumar directed the prosecution to produce the case dairies (CD) of the case to ascertain whether the probe is going in the right direction and adjourned the hearing to August 6.