I haven't gone hiding, will face cases: Karunas

Chennai: Actor-legislator Karunas, who stoked a controversy by making derogatory remarks at the Chief Minister and a police officer, and against whom the police registered several cases, on Friday expressed regrets if he had hurt any particular caste. He said he has not run away and that he would face the cases legally.

“I had only pointed out the mistakes of a police officer. I have not gone underground. I am here in Chennai. If such false reports could be circulated against a legislator, it is worrying to think of the problems faced by the common man,” he said on Friday.

After he had allegedly issued death threats to the Chief Minister and a police officer while addressing party cadre at a protest meeting organised by his party Mukkulathor Puli Padai here, recently, the Nungambakkam police registered cases for issuing death threats, provocative speech and indulging in criminal conspiracy against Tamil Nadu CM, Deputy Chief Minister and a police officer.

Speaking to reporters here he alleged that a particular police officer has been foisting cases against youngsters in his community and that the protest meeting was meant only to highlight the issue. “I would have become emotional... if I had made any personal attack or remark against anyone, I regret it,” Karunas said. Though he has been running his political outfit since 2009, not a single case has been booked so far, he claimed.

  The issue, he asserted, was only with regards to a particular police officer and there was no reason why the entire police should “turn against him.” “I spoke for 47 minutes and the video of my speech has been edited and a particular clip is being played on television channels,” Karunas alleged.

  When asked, a senior police officersaid that Karunas can't evade arrest as FIR has been filed against him for issuing death threats to the CM, Deputy CM and a police officer. “We have video evidence to prove it,” he added.