Kapu community leader and former minister Mudragada Padmanabham, who began an indefinite fast at his residence at Kirlampudi village in East Godavari district on Thursday, was arrested by CID sleuths in connection with the train burning incident at Tuni early this year.
Padmanabham sat on indefinite fast seeking release of the five youths arrested two days ago in connection with the incident on January 31. He had fixed a deadline till last night for the release of those arrested.
The agitation by Kapus, seeking inclusion in the Backward Classes category, had turned violent at Tuni when the protesters went on a rampage setting on fire a passenger train, a police station, besides police and private vehicles.
The Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) is investigating the train burning case.
He was admitted to the government hospital in Rajamahendravaram for medical checkup following rumours that he consumed some insecticide in a bid to prevent his arrest.
However, doctors confirmed after medical tests that nothing was amiss.
A high drama prevailed in Kirlampudi in the morning as the Kapu leader locked himself up inside his house and threatened to consume poison if police tried to arrest him forcibly.
His supporters picked up argument with the police personnel and demanded that they first clearly mention the charges against Padmanabham if they intended to arrest him.
Eluru Range Deputy Inspector General of Police, P Ramakrishna, East Godavari district Superintendent of Police Raviprakash and other senior police officials camped in Kirlampudi to oversee security and also prevail upon the former minister to give up.
Late in evening, the police took scores of Padmanabham's supporters into custody and drove them away in vehicles before picking him up.
Padmanabham has been named as an accused in the train burning case, for having organised the agitation programme.
He was also charged with violating prohibitory orders issued under section 144 CrPc two days ago in Amalapuram town and staging a protest outside the local police station demanding release of the five arrested youths, a CID official said.