Three activists belonging to activist group Arappor Iyakkam are still in Puzhal Central jail for pulling down the banners and hoardings on TTK Road of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday.
Activists Jayaram Venkatesan, Chandra Mohan and Athher Ahmed were arrested by the police after a tussle with AIADMK members and produced at a city court on Thursday. They were given 15 days judicial custody by the court, according to TOI.
Police officers said that the activists were arrested for damaging “public property”. “Public property could be owned by the government, local authorities or any institution,” Mylapore inspector Sam Vincent told TOI. The inspector added that the party had taken permission from the Chennai collector before putting up the hoardings.
In 2008, The Madras High Court and Supreme Court had banned hoardings in Chennai and are only allowed through official clearance.
AR Ramiah, a volunteer with the group said that the police did not arrest AIADMK members for putting up the hoardings and are instead threatening the activists, according to TOI.
The activists were arrested at 12:30PM on Thursday and kept in Abiramapuram police station till 4:30PM and later taken to Mylapore police station and reached Puzhal jail around 11PM. Ramiah told TOI that the activists were not given any food or allowed to speak to their family members. They will apply for bail on Monday, said Ramiah.