Accountant of MKs wife held for land grab

TIRUCHY:  The accountant of Rajathi Ammal, wife of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly usurping lands of some Dalit families here. According to police, the accused, Ramesh, was arrested for demolishing the houses of 31 Dalit families at Rajiv Gandhi Nagar in Edamalai Pudhur in the city. Thambiraja, a realtor, who too was named in the complaint by the residents, was arrested.The residents, led by one B Nirmala Devi, had submitted a petition to District Collector Jayashree Muralidharan on July 25, alleging that on January 14, 2008, Ramesh and Thambi Raja, a realtor from Karaikudi, came to the area and asked the residents to vacate, claiming that they had purchased the lands. They then demolished their houses, besides  threatening them with their political clout and proximity to the then CM, the residents alleged. The residents informed about the incident to officials and local politicians, but none came forward to help them as the issue involved top people in the State, they said.