Petrol bomb attack: DGP refutes TN Raj Bhavan claims; Law Minister S Regupathy says accused had earlier attacked BJP office

A history-sheeter, the man was arrested by the police Wednesday afternoon.

The police claimed that the accused had four petrol bombs in his possession and he hurled two of them at the main gate of the Governor’s office, which fell near the barricade. Further, the police added that there were no damages to people or properties.

The DGP in a statement Thursday said that the accused, identified as Karukka Vinodh (42), has 14 cases pending against him. He was arrested by the Guindy police and was produced before the magistrate and remanded to judicial custody until November 9.

The police added that Vinodh and his accomplices had previously hurled a petrol bomb at a Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) store on the South Boag Road in 2015 and in 2017, they had attempted a similar attack on the Teynampet police station.

Meanwhile, the Opposition, including the AIADMK and the BJP, have been slamming the government over the attack.

Replying to allegations levelled by Raj Bhavan

The Raj Bhavan said the miscreant tried to barge through the main gate but the alert sentries prevented them but the perpetrator still managed to hurl two petrol bombs and fled the spot. The DGP’s statement refuted the claims and termed them false.

The police also debunked Raj Bhavan’s claim that the police did not take any action or register an FIR on a complaint related to the incident that took place in April 2022 when the Governor was “attacked” while he was on his way to attend a scheduled function at the Dharmapuram Adhinam.

The police further said that the allegation that the Governor’s convoy was attacked with stones and sticks is also not true. Instead, the police said black flags were hurled by the protestors which fell on the vehicles. “As many as 73 people were arrested by the police in connection with the incident and there is video evidence to prove this,” the statement said.

“It was due to the tight vigil of the Greater Chennai Police personnel who were on duty at the Raj Bhavan, the accused was immediately arrested. A thorough investigation will be carried out on this case. We have secured the CCTV footage; a fair investigation will be conducted on this case,” the DGP added.