In a major breakthrough in the murder of disability rights activist and lawyer Muruganantham, the Dharapuram police on September 10 arrested Karthik, the son of prime accused Dhandapani, at Trichy International Airport after he returned from Malaysia, where he had fled post the incident.
Muruganantham, who practiced at the Madras High Court, was hacked to death on July 29 in Dharapuram. He had earlier raised objections to illegal constructions and safety violations at Thenmalar Matriculation Higher Secondary School — a property owned by his paternal uncle, Dhandapani, who was also the principal.
Following Muruganantham’s petition, the High Court ordered a resurvey of the school premises adjacent to his land. On the day of the resurvey, contract killers, allegedly hired by Dhandapani, ambushed and murdered Muruganantham. The attackers hid inside a school bus and carried out the fatal assault.
Investigations revealed that Karthik had transferred money to the assailants about ten days before the killing. Shortly after the murder, he left for Malaysia, citing medical treatment, prompting authorities to issue a lookout notice.
A special police team detained him upon his arrival at Trichy Airport and transferred him to Dharapuram police station for interrogation.
So far, 18 people have been arrested, including Dhandapani and Karthik. Dhandapani and two others are detained under the Tamil Nadu Goondas Act, which permits preventive detention of dangerous offenders without immediate bail.
All accused are currently lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison.
