Coimbatore: Cops nab journalist for allegedly publishing corruption news about minister
Based on a complaint filed by Parthiban, who alleged that Anbazagan blackmailed him for money saying that if he does not pay Rs 2 lakh, defamatory news would be published in his magazine.
In Short
- After hours of searching for Anbazagan, it was discovered that he was nabbed by police.
- He was nabbed on a complaint for allegedly blackmailing an engineer.
- Anbazagan has recently published an article in his magazine about how corruption flourished in Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani's dept.
Anbazagan, a senior journalist residing in Poonamalli, left his home for a walk around 8.30am in the morning and didn't return on time to leave for work. His family members grew concerned as Anbazagan is known stick to a time table and they were unable to reach him on phone. Fearing for his life, a complaint was registered with the police.
After hours of searching for Anbazagan, it was discovered that he was nabbed by police belonging to Alandur limit, Coimbatore. Based on a complaint filed by Parthiban, an assistant engineer from Alandur, who alleged that Anbazagan blackmailed him for money saying that if he does not pay Rs 2 lakh, defamatory news would be published in his magazine, which has triggered the 'nabbing'.
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that Anbazagan has recently published an article in his magazine carrying interviews of government officials speaking about how corruption flourished in Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani's department. Anbazagan had alleged that Parthiban uses 'honey trapping' technique to persuade the minister into signing transfers and also claims huge sum were paid as bribe for it.
In that article, Anbazagan broadly explained an interaction with Tambaram Municipal commissioner Mathivanan and how the official used money and cinema 'support artists' to finish his job especially with minister SP Velumani. As per his family, Parthiban became upset with Anbazagan's article and has attempted to take revenge on him.
On 25th April, Anbazagan has written a 4 pages letter to CBI director, Alok Kumar Verma explaining about the various levels of corruption within the municipal administration and the officials involved in it along with the minister SP Velumani's name and a strong allegation that the minister was charging 10% from the funds allocated to commissioner and engineer of the concerned local body.
Alandur police have charged Anbazagan with attempt to release false news and distributing it, propagating false news and threaten to murder under Sections 501, 502, 505 and 506. The news of secretly nabbing a journalist by the cops came as a surprise to other journalists in Tamil Nadu who questioned the action of the police.
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