Son, brother of Panneerselvam file anticipatory bail petition

The son and brother of former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam today filed an anticipatory bail petition in the Madras High Court in a rioting and criminal intimidation case registered against them at RK Nagar, where assembly bypoll is scheduled for April 12.
O P Ravindranath Kumar, who filed the petition jointly with his uncle O Raja, alleged that police had foisted the case on them "due to political vendetta."
They claimed, it was done as Panneerselvam had gained more popularity among AIADMK cadres and the electorate, compared to the rival AIADMK party leader and its Deputy General Secretary T T V Dinakaran.

Police said a complaint has been lodged against the two that they, along with some other persons, attacked a party worker owing allegiance to Dinakaran at R K Nagar.
The petitioners alleged that the police case had been filed at the instance of Dinakaran to 'defame' Panneerselvam and claimed they were not present at the spot on April 6, as mentioned in the First Information Report.
The petition is expected to be taken up for hearing on Monday by Justice S Baskaran.