Source: The Commune
The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has formally requested Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to remove K Selvaperunthagai, the president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), due to allegations of his involvement in the murder of former BSP state chief K Armstrong on July 15.
In a letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, BSP Tamil Nadu general secretary K Jeyshankar accused Selvaperunthagai of being an accused in three murder cases and claimed he has a significant influence over the corporate scrap and real estate sectors in northern Tamil Nadu. Jeyshankar further alleged that Selvaperunthagai orchestrated Armstrong’s assassination with the assistance of rowdy Nagendran, who has since been arrested in connection with the crime.
On July 5 of this year, K Armstrong, a 52-year-old advocate, was brutally murdered outside his home in Perambur by a group of assailants. Following the incident, police identified the attackers, who were disguised as food delivery agents, using CCTV footage. To date, over 16 individuals have been arrested in connection with the murder, including Ashwathaman, a former Congress member, and his father Nagendran, a convicted criminal.
BSP’s K Jeyshankar alleges that Selvaperunthagai was closely linked to Nagendran and played a pivotal role in planning Armstrong’s attack. Jeyshankar further claims that Selvaperunthagai has a history of criminal involvement, pointing to his suspected roles in multiple murders, including those of Auditor Pandian, Albert, and PPG Shankar. According to the BSP, Ashwathaman, who was appointed by Selvaperunthagai to the Congress youth wing, collaborated closely with his father and Selvaperunthagai to carry out criminal activities and distribute ransom money.
The BSP has sharply criticized the ruling DMK government, part of the INDI Alliance, for not arresting K Selvaperunthagai, suggesting that his role as TNCC president has provided him with protection from investigation. Jeyshankar questioned, “Why has Selvaperunthagai not been arrested despite his involvement in Armstrong’s murder?” highlighting the growing public outcry on social media for accountability.
The BSP has urged Rahul Gandhi to dismiss Selvaperunthagai over the Armstrong murder case, asserting that such action would help uphold the Congress party’s reputation in Tamil Nadu. Moreover, BSP leaders, alongside Armstrong’s widow, plan to meet with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to discuss the case and seek justice.
Jeyshankar’s allegations have escalated political pressure on Selvaperunthagai, with increasing calls for him to be interrogated in the ongoing murder investigation. He noted in his letter that Ashwathaman, son of Nagendran, was appointed as the principal general secretary of the youth wing by Selvaperunthagai, labeling him a known rowdy who operates on behalf of both his father and Selvaperunthagai.
Jeyshankar alleged that a gang has been threatening to kill those who enter the real estate business in northern Tamil Nadu, claiming that Selvaperunthagai orchestrated this heinous assassination with their assistance. He suggested that Selvaperunthagai’s position as the Congress state leader has deterred the ruling DMK government and the police from arresting him.
In a recent media interaction, Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai accused Selvaperunthagai of being a history-sheeter. Selvaperunthagai demanded an apology from Annamalai for the accusation, warning that failure to comply could lead to legal action for defamation and character assassination, potentially invoking sections of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
On July 9, 2024, Annamalai responded via a tweet, outlining a series of criminal cases linked to Selvaperunthagai, reaffirming his refusal to apologize. The cases mentioned include:
Notably, he was apprehended under the Goondas Act in 2003.
Accusations have arisen from Narayanan Thirupathy, vice president of the Tamil Nadu BJP, who stated, “I demand the resignation of Tamil Nadu Congress president Mr. Selvaperunthagai on moral grounds, as this is a serious accusation against him. The Tamil Nadu Police and the Chief Minister should act swiftly and take necessary action.”
In his 2011 assembly election affidavit, Selvaperunthagai claimed that no cases or FIRs were filed against him. However, during the 2016 Assembly elections, Congress leader D. Yashoda alleged that Selvaperunthagai was a staunch supporter of the LTTE and had joined the Congress to protect his alleged “ill-gotten wealth.”
Additionally, Selvaperunthagai’s purported links to the Buckingham College of London have resurfaced, revealing that his wife, Umayal Selvam, was listed as one of the directors. It is worth noting that the college’s website states that Umayal resigned from her position in 2012.
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