DMK MLA I. Periyasamy’s daughter held for kidnap, murder

Madurai: The Madurai police on Tuesday arrested former DMK minister and sitting MLA I. Periyasamy’s daughter and two of his relatives on charges of abducting and murdering a realtor in a land dispute. Periyasamy’s daughter Indira (36), his sister-in-law Uma Rani (51) and her husband Palanivelu (56), were secured from their house and detained at the Tallakulam police station since early morning and were questioned about their alleged role in the kidnap and murder of K. Jamal Mohamed of Chokkikulam, a real estate businessman and managing trustee of Madurai K.M. Allaudin Rowther Trust.

Later in the evening, the trio was arrested and produced before judicial magistrate II Triveni who remanded them in custody until October 7. The DMK men covered the windows of the police vehicle with cloth to prevent lensmen from taking photos of the trio. Police sources said Jamal went missing on August 31 but was found murdered in Kodaikanal on September 8. Indira, Uma Rani and Palanivelu had bought about 20 cents of land from him and had got it registered in their names, separately and jointly, on September 1.

According to his nephew A. Mohamed Mustafa, Jamal left his house in his car on August 31 but did not return. His wife stayed in touch with him on his cellphone until the night of September 1. But as his cellphone remained switched off, he lodged a man missing complaint at the Tallakulam police station. The arrests come a day after trust  members staged a protest at the collector's office.   They also demanded a CBI probe.