The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Businessman held in Aruna murder case

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 31, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Businessman held in Aruna murder case

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI, JAN. 30. The chairman of Rajas Group of Educational Institutions and Rajas Group of Companies, S. Arul Raja (67), known as S.A. Raja, of Vadakkankulam in the district, was arrested this evening in connection with the murder of the former Law Minister, Aladi Aruna. The DMK leader was killed on December 31 last by a three-member gang at Nallur near Alangulam, about 30 km from here.

Mr. Raja, who was picked up by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Valliyoor, Singaravelu, from his Jayamatha Engineering College at Aralvoimozhi on the Tirunelveli — Kanyakumari border along with Om Bhoothalingam, principal, S.A. Raja College of Arts and Science, was taken to the Alangulam police station for enquiry in his Mercedes Benz.

The police, who were interrogating the "kingpin" of the crime, M. Veldurai, at the police outpost at Seethaparpanallur on the Tirunelveli — Tenkasi highway, shifted him to the Alangulam police station, which was declared open by Mr. Aladi Aruna on October 11, 1998, when he was the Law Minister.

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Tirunelveli Range, K. Gopalakrishnan, and the Superintendent of Police, Anand Kumar Somani, and top police officials camped at Alangulam to monitor the interrogation, which was conducted in the presence of Mr. Raja's legal adviser.

Statement to police

Top police sources here said Veldurai, in a statement to the police, said that he and Benny, another accused, who had committed suicide in Ahmedabad on January 26, were hired by Mr. Raja to eliminate Mr. Aladi Aruna "as he had created trouble for engineering colleges being run by Mr. Raja". On getting a copy of Veldurai's statement from their Ahmedabad counterparts, the police here grilled him.

"Based on the vital information provided by Veldurai during interrogation and the content of the declaration, Mr. Raja was arrested," a top police official here said.

On hearing of the police action, the four sons of Mr. Raja and their advocates rushed to the police station. One of their cars collided with a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus at Pudur. However, no one was injured. They refused to speak to the media.

Deployment of police was strengthened in areas where Mr. Raja's educational institutions are located.

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