Chennai: Thickening the plot in the murder of Tamil Nadu BSP chief K Armstrong, the Chennai Police has arrested three more persons, including functionaries of the AIADMK and Tamil Maanila Congress, in connection with the case, even as a manhunt has been launched for a BJP leader, who is absconding.
The 54-year-old S Malarkodi, who is a lawyer at the Egmore court, was arrested on Wednesday night, following which the AIADMK expelled her from the primary membership of the party for “bringing disrepute” to the outfit.
K Hariharan, who was the state vice-president of Tamil Maanila Congress’ students wing, and Sathish, also lawyers, were arrested along with Malarkodi for their alleged involvement in the murder, which exposed the sinking law and order situation in the state. TMC chief G K Vasan announced that Hariharan has been stripped of his primary membership.
Malarkodi and Hariharan were in touch with G Arul, who is already in jail for his role in the murder, and there is evidence of financial transactions between them, police said. Sathish, one of the arrested persons, is the son of a local DMK functionary.
“We are investigating the nature of the transactions between Malarkodi, Hariharan, and Arul. The investigation is continuing,” a police source told DH, adding that more lawyers are likely to be brought into the ambit of the probe.
The source added that a manhunt has been launched to nab Anjalai, a BJP functionary, who is also said to have played a role in the murder plot. With the arrest of three people on Wednesday, the number of arrests in the case has gone up to 14 with one accused, Thiruvengadam, being gunned down by police in an encounter on July 14.
“The investigation is continuing and it is a revenge for the killing of a history-sheeter Arcot Suresh in 2023,” the source said. Armstrong (51), was hacked to death by a six-member gang, who were dressed as food delivery boys, outside his home in Perambur on July 5, raising questions about the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu.
The murder also set off a series of transfers at the top in the government with the shunting out of Home Secretary P Amudha, Chennai police commissioner Sandeep Rai Rathore, and other senior police officers from their posts.
Armstrong, who faced several criminal cases in the past and was cleared of them, is a noted figure in north Chennai and was popular among youngsters belonging to the Dalit community.
Armstrong, who was a councillor in the Greater Chennai Corporation, was the chief of the Tamil Nadu unit of BSP, which hardly has any presence in the state.