Absconding former AIADMK Minister arrested in B'luru for alleged rape

Chennai: Former AIADMK Minister M Manikandan was arrested from Bengaluru during the wee hours of Sunday on charges of raping a woman, police sources confirmed.

A complaint in this regard was filed by the victim on May 28.

Chennai police formed a special team to arrest Manikandan after he went absconding in order to evade arrest following the rejection of his anticipatory bail plea in the Madras High Court.

In her complaint, the victim claimed that she met Manikandan in 2017 when he was minister and got close to him after the latter promised to do business together in Malaysia. She had reportedly tagged along with him to several places during his official tours. She alleged that she was tortured and also forced by him to abort after becoming pregnant.

Following the complaint, police registered a case against the former minister for cheating, rape, causing miscarriage, hurt and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code.