Banners for MGR centenary fete removed in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Even as the much expected release of the CCTV footages on the controversial accidental death of a Coimbatore-based software engineer based in the US in a recent road mishap in the city was getting delayed on Friday, the Coimbatore corporation officials began removing the banners and festoons erected for the forthcoming MGR birth centenary celebrations here without prior permission, following an order by the Madras High court.

The 32-year-old techie, Ragupathy, a native of Coimbatore who had come down here to try and finalise a matrimonial alliance, was killed recently in a road mishap near Coimbatore Medical College, it may be recalled. Police had arrested a lorry driver, alleging that the lorry traversed on a one-way road, violating traffic rules, killed Ragupathy and fled without stopping.

However, the opposition DMK had been alleging that Ragupathy was first knocked down on the bridge as his two-wheeler hit the protruding banners put up for the MGR birth centenary celebrations in Coimbatore, a charge that was categorically denied by the local AIADMK minister, S.P. Velumani. Meanwhile, the Madras High court had directed the removal of the banners installed on roadsides for the MGR birth centenary celebrations. Following the court order, corporation officials removed banners installed on Avinashi road, Tiruchy road, Ukkadam, Sathi road, Aathupalam, Kuniyamuthoor and Sundrapuram. Unidentified persons had damaged a few banners installed near Podanur Sai Nagar bus stop after the techie's tragic death.