Following a police complaint against Tamil actor Santhanam for allegedly threatening a builder and attacking him, the actor filed an anticipatory bail petition in the Madras High Court on Tuesday.

Santhanam alleged that the builder had filed a false case against him. “In order to escape from his liability, the defacto-complaiant created a scenario and he lodged a false complaint against me as counter blast to harass and humiliate me. I state that I am innocent and I am no way connected to the alleged offence. I am a law-abiding citizen and I am having permanent address and as such I am ready to offer substantial sureties for my release,” as stated in the petition.

On Monday, Santhanam, a builder Shanmugasundaram and two others were injured in Valasaravakkam after they allegedly attacked each other over a land deal. They were taken to a private hospital and then discharged.

After which, Shanmugasundaram filed a police complaint at the Valasaravakkam police station and a case was registered against Santhanam under Sections 294(b) (sings or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place), 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means.), 506 (i) (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

According to reports, Santhanam had planned to build a mall in Kunrathur and assigned the job to Shanmugasundaram, a builder who operated out of an office in Valasaravakkam.

He claimed in the petition that the builder never started the work so he had demanded the money back. “The defacto-complainant received money for constructing the building and the defacto complainant did not keep up with his words and he never started the construction works and I requested him to return back the money. The defacto-complainant did not come forward to return the money to me.”

Santhanam said in his petition that on Monday the Shanmugasundaram invited him for settlement talks. “Believing the words of the defacto-compainant, I met the defacto-complainant at his office. When the settlement talks were going on, all of sudden, the defacto-complainant and his associates attacked me and caused me injuries,” said the petition.

The actor also filed a complaint against the builder and his associates before the Valasaravakkam police and a case was registered under Sections 294 (B) and 506 (i) of IPC.

Santhanam told the HC that he will not tamper or hamper the evidence and witnesses, if he was granted anticipatory bail in this case.