The Chennai North Beach police have registered a case against former minister and DMK MLA P Sekarbabu along with his supporters in connection with an altercation involving TVK functionaries during the Tamil Nadu Assembly election polling in the Harbour constituency on April 23. The case was filed under six sections of the BNS Act, including 109(1) (attempted murder), 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 296(b) (abusing), 115(2) (causing injury), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 123(2)(a)(1) of the Representation of the People (RP) Act (violating election norms).
The complaint was lodged by TVK Harbour constituency candidate Sinora Ashok, who alleged that Sekarbabu and his supporters assaulted her party members during an argument on polling day in Mannadi. According to police, tension escalated in the Harbour constituency on the evening of April 23 following a dispute between DMK and Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi (MJK) members over allegations that outsiders were being housed at a party office near a polling station.
The incident occurred around 5:35 pm on Angappa Naicken Street near Chennai Urdu School, where polling booths numbered 104, 105, and 107 were located. Police stated that Sekarbabu, who was the DMK candidate from the Harbour constituency, had completed his inspection of polling booths and was heading to a nearby mosque when he received information about outsiders present at an MJK office in the area. Subsequently, Sekarbabu and DMK cadres went to the office of MJK functionary Haroon Rasheed, leading to an argument between the two groups.
Senior police officers, including deputy commissioner-level officials, Assistant Commissioner Velmurugan, and Inspector Saravanan, rushed to the spot and intervened to bring the situation under control. Police detained a man identified as Aaliyar, associated with MJK, along with some TVK members, and evacuated them from the area around 5:45 pm. Following the police action, Sinora Ashok staged a road blockade near Ilaiyangudi Mosque on Ibrahim Road from 6 pm, demanding action against those involved. Police later held talks with the protesters and restored normal traffic movement.
Police sources revealed that Sekarbabu’s name was not initially included in the complaint from Sinora Ashok. However, after further inquiry and directions from election authorities, the Harbour police registered an FIR against Sekarbabu and his supporters. On April 30, Sinora Ashok moved the Madras High Court seeking protection, citing a threat to her life from Sekarbabu. The petition was later closed after the Chennai police informed the court that adequate security had already been provided to her. Further investigation into the case is ongoing.
