DMK councillor arrested for threatening remarks against Tamil Nadu CM Vijay
Synopsis
A DMK councillor's inflammatory reference to the 2025 Karur stampede — allegedly made outside Puzhal Central Prison while a former minister was being lodged there — triggered a multi-district police manhunt ending in two arrests. The case exposes fault lines within Tamil Nadu's ruling party at a politically charged moment.
Key Takeaways
Vellore DMK councillor Teeta Saravanan arrested on 28 October 2026 for allegedly threatening Chief Minister C.
Saravanan allegedly said, 'If only we had finished him off back in Karur,' referencing the 2025 Karur stampede .
The remarks were made outside Puzhal Central Prison during a DMK supporter gathering after former minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi's arrest on bribery allegations.
A case was registered under four sections , including intimidation and obstructing public servants.
Three special teams were deployed; Saravanan was traced to Villupuram after allegedly misleading police about travelling to Bengaluru.
DMK youth wing functionary ACK Premkumar was also arrested for allegedly sheltering Saravanan during the search.
Vellore DMK councillor Teeta Saravanan was arrested by Puzhal police in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, for allegedly making threatening remarks against Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay — remarks that referenced the 2025 Karur stampede. A second arrest followed when ACK Premkumar, deputy organiser of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)'s Central District Youth Wing in Villupuram, was taken into custody for allegedly sheltering the councillor while police searched for him.
What Saravanan Allegedly Said
The controversy stems from a video that circulated widely on social media, purportedly showing Saravanan making remarks outside Puzhal Central Prison. According to the video, he said: 'If only we had finished him off back in Karur, would things have reached this state?' — a reference to the 2025 Karur stampede tragedy. He reportedly repeated the comment to another person standing nearby. The remarks were made during a gathering of DMK supporters who had assembled outside the prison while raising slogans against the Tamil Nadu government.
Context: Why Supporters Had Gathered
The gathering outside Puzhal Central Prison took place after former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was brought to the facility following his arrest in a case linked to bribery allegations. DMK workers had congregated in large numbers outside the prison premises, where the alleged remarks were captured on video and subsequently shared across platforms, drawing sharp criticism and prompting police action.
Police Action and the Search Operation
Puzhal police registered a case against Saravanan under four sections, including provisions relating to obstructing public servants from discharging their duties, intimidation, and disturbing public peace. Three special teams were constituted to locate him after he allegedly went into hiding. According to reports, Saravanan attempted to mislead authorities by claiming he was travelling to Bengaluru; however, investigators eventually traced him to Premkumar's residence in Villupuram, where a special team took him into custody.
Second Arrest: Party Functionary Detained
Premkumar was arrested on the allegation that he provided shelter to the wanted councillor during the active police search. Identified as a functionary of the DMK's youth wing in Villupuram's Central District, his detention signals that investigators are treating the sheltering itself as a cognisable offence. This is a notable escalation — seldom does a single inflammatory video result in two arrests spanning different districts of Tamil Nadu.
What Happens Next
Both men are expected to face further legal proceedings as the case progresses. The incident adds to political tensions within Tamil Nadu, coming as the ruling DMK itself grapples with internal discipline following the controversy over Poyyamozhi's arrest. Observers note that the swift police response reflects the sensitivity surrounding any perceived threat to the Chief Minister.
Point of View
A multi-district manhunt, and a second arrest for sheltering — suggests authorities treated this as more than a routine law-and-order case. That a sitting DMK councillor made the alleged remarks at a gathering organised in support of a detained DMK minister deepens the embarrassment for the ruling party. The reference to the 2025 Karur stampede is particularly charged: invoking a mass-casualty tragedy as a rhetorical weapon against the Chief Minister crosses a line that Tamil Nadu's political culture, fractious as it is, rarely normalises. The DMK's silence on whether it will take internal disciplinary action is as telling as the arrests themselves.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Teeta Saravanan and why was he arrested?
Teeta Saravanan is a DMK councillor from Vellore who was arrested on 28 October 2026 by Puzhal police for allegedly making threatening remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. The remarks, captured in a video outside Puzhal Central Prison, referenced the 2025 Karur stampede and were widely circulated on social media.
What exactly did Saravanan allegedly say?
According to reports, Saravanan said, 'If only we had finished him off back in Karur, would things have reached this state?' — a reference to the Chief Minister and the 2025 Karur stampede tragedy. He allegedly repeated the remark to a second person nearby.
Why were DMK supporters gathered outside Puzhal Central Prison?
DMK supporters had gathered outside Puzhal Central Prison following the arrest of former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi in a case involving bribery allegations. Saravanan's remarks were made during this gathering.
Who is ACK Premkumar and why was he arrested?
ACK Premkumar is the deputy organiser of the DMK's Central District Youth Wing in Villupuram. He was arrested on the allegation that he provided shelter to Saravanan while police were conducting an active search for the councillor.
What charges have been filed against Saravanan?
Puzhal police registered a case against Saravanan under four sections covering offences including obstructing public servants from discharging their duties, intimidation, and disturbing public peace.
