Chennai: The arrest and remand of ‘activist’ R S Mugilan has created a furore across the State. While sources said he suddenly appeared at Tirupati railway station, raised slogans by sitting on the railway track and courted arrest, Mugilan has claimed he was kidnapped and tortured.
A native of Erode, Mugilan, who was involved in last year’s anti-Sterlite protests, has now been arrested in a rape case.
On 15 February, he addressed a press meet sharing ‘evidence’ on the police firing against anti-Sterlite protesters. On that night, he went missing from a train while travelling to Madurai from Chennai.
While his wife Poongudi and college-going son Karmugil lodged complaints that Mugilan was missing, the police kept monitoring their phones.
According to sources, by singling out common numbers appearing in the call lists of his family members and friends, police finally traced a phone number in Tirupati. However, Mugilan managed to smell this and courted arrest, sources added.
After Andhra Railway police confirmed his identity, he was taken to Katapdi station and handed over to the CB-CID.
Soon after his disappearance, a rape allegation was levelled against him by a fellow protester. It is still not clear if Mugilan was kidnapped like he claims or if he absconded fearing the repercussions of the rape case.