Former AIADMK ministers SP Velumani and Kadambur C Raju, along with 13 others from the party, have been booked by Muthaiyapuram police in Thoothukudi district for allegedly assaulting a pastor in a road rage incident on Tuesday. The incident reportedly took place near Uppathu Odai around 10:30 am, when a confrontation occurred between the former ministers’ convoy and the pastor’s vehicle.
N Jagan, the pastor of Madathuvilai CSI Church, was allegedly attacked while travelling by car from Arumuganeri towards Thoothukudi. According to his complaint, the assault happened when he was unable to make way for the AIADMK convoy, led by Velumani and Raju, on the Tiruchendur road. The ministers were returning from party meetings held in Tiruchendur and were on their way to Thoothukudi and Kovilpatti.
The pastor explained that multiple cars were traveling ahead of him, and several were following, making it difficult to pull over and let the ministers’ vehicles pass, despite repeated horn blaring by the convoy. This allegedly led to the ministers stopping their vehicles, exiting, and engaging in a heated argument with the pastor. Jagan claims he was verbally abused and physically assaulted by AIADMK cadre.
“Kadambur Raju, after a heated argument, asked the party cadre to finish me off,” the pastor alleged in his complaint.
Following the pastor’s allegations, the Muthaiyapuram police registered a case against 15 people, including former ministers SP Velumani and Kadambur Raju. The injured pastor was taken to Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.
The police have launched an investigation into the incident, which has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of prominent political figures.