Police detained Vidya Rani, daughter of sandalwood smuggler Veerappan and a Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) candidate, after she entered a campaign meeting addressed by PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss in Mettur, Salem district.
Anbumani was campaigning near the Mecheri Bhadrakaliamman temple in support of AIADMK candidate Venkatachalam for the Mettur constituency. During the event, Vidya Rani walked into the gathering and asked Anbumani to instruct PMK workers to clear the road, alleging they were blocking her passage.
Anbumani told her the issue could be discussed later and continued his speech. Following this, she reportedly sat on the ground crying and refused to move, after which police took her into custody.
Speaking later, Vidya Rani claimed police had been following and monitoring her daily activities for the past 10 days because she is Veerappan’s daughter. She said her vehicle was stopped and checked at multiple places and that she was asked to submit daily election expense accounts.
She also said she could have passed through the area easily, but police asked her to wait until the campaign ended. She added that she respected Anbumani’s family and approached him directly on that basis, and alleged she was being kept at the police station without a case being registered.
