Ponmudy held for provocative speech

CUDDALORE: Former minister K Ponmudy, lodged in the Cuddalore jail in a land grabbing case, was arrested again on Thursday over an alleged provocative speech against Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa during a public meeting.On June 5, during a speech at a public meeting organised to thank voters, he allegedly used derogatory language against the CM. DMK leader M Karunanidhi was also present at the meeting.In July, a First Information Report under sections 153, 294 B and 506(2) of the IPC was lodged against him with the Tiruvarur police. On Thursday, a police team, led by DSPs Rajendran and Gurusamy, arrived at Cuddalore with a warrant and arrested him. He was escorted in a police van to Tiruvarur, produced in court and remanded till September 29. Ponmudy later filed a bail petition with the judicial magistrate court at Tiruvarur. The former minister was then brought back and lodged in the Cuddalore prison.