HC impleads paraolympic gold medallist as respondent in plea

The Madras High Court today impleaded gold medal winning Indian paraolympic high jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu as a respondent in a plea seeking police protection alleging harassment and threat from him.
Justice M S Ramesh directed the paraolympic to be included as a respondent after hearing a petition by M Muniyammal, who sought police protection for her and her family following alleged harassment from the athlete and his associates.
According to the Salem-based petitioner, after Mariyappan and his associates assaulted her son M Satish Kumar, he was found dead near a railway track in the district in June.
The alleged assault happened after her 19-year old son accidentally rammed his two-wheeler into Mariyappan's car, which damaged its 'door-handle' and it led to a quarrel.

Muniyammal's son lost control of his motorcycle due to bad road condition and obstruction, and fell over the car, she contended.
However, Mariyappan and his friends thrashed Satish and when he escaped and reached home, they again attacked him brutally, she claimed.

When Mariyappan and his associates tried to snatch Satish's mobile phone, her son ran and he did not return home.
Satish was later found dead near the railway track in the vicinity of the village, she said.
Muniyammal sought police protection, alleging that Mariappan, two of his associates and unidentified "henchmen" continuously harassed her and family and threatened them with dire consequences.

Police did not act on her complaint against Mariyappan since he was a celebrity sports man, she claimed.
The judge posted the matter for further hearing to October 24.