Former AIADMK Minister's Son Arrested for Murder After Vadakadu Road Blockade

Police arrested Rajapandiyan, the son of former AIADMK minister A. Venkatachalam, on Thursday after relatives and villagers staged an extensive road blockade at Vadakadu on the Pudukkottai-Pattukkottai highway. The protest followed the murder of Rajapandiyan's younger brother, Rajarajan, over a property dispute.

The demonstration by the victim's family members and local residents brought vehicular movement along the Pudukkottai-Pattukkottai highway to a standstill. Traffic remained paralysed for more than five hours as protesters demanded Rajapandiyan's immediate arrest.

The dispute dates back to last year, when Rajapandiyan locked Rajarajan's house at Vadakadu after forcibly evicting his brother's family. Rajarajan later approached the judiciary, leading to a directive from the Madras High Court ordering Rajapandiyan to hand over the keys of the house back to his younger brother.

The confrontation occurred on Thursday when members of Rajarajan's family arrived at the Vadakadu residence and began cleaning the premises. Rajapandiyan objected to their actions and attempted to attack Rajarajan.

Rajarajan fled the confrontation and sought refuge inside a neighbouring house. However, Rajapandiyan pursued him inside, stabbed his younger brother with a knife, and struck him with an LPG cylinder, killing Rajarajan on the spot.

Following the fatal assault and the subsequent road roko on the highway, police personnel intervened and arrested Rajapandiyan. Officials confirmed that an investigation into the killing is currently underway.