Ex-ABVP President arrested for harassing elderly woman neighbour

Chennai: Dr Subbiah Shanmugam, former National President of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) was arrested by the police for allegedly harassing an elderly woman neighbour at his apartment in Adambakkam area in the city.

He was booked under various sections of the IPC in July 2020 for urinating outside the apartment of an elderly lady, his neighbour, following an argument over parking space.

Based on a complaint from the woman's relative, cases were registered against him under Secs 271 (disobedience to quarantine rule) and 427 (mischief causing damage) of the IPC and under the Tamil Nadu Women Harassment Prevention Act.

Subbiah Shanmugam has been arrested now after a fresh complaint was received from the victim. Earlier, she had to withdraw the complaint due to 'political pressure'.

Earlier, the complainant had also submitted CCTV footage as proof, which showed a man standing in front of the victim's house for a few seconds at an odd hour.

The Former ABVP President, who is the Head of Surgical Oncology at the Government Royapettah hospital in the city, was placed under suspension last month for “violating the service rules” by meeting activists of the outfit in jail.

The Directorate of Medical Education (DME) placed Dr Shanmugam under suspension following complaints that he was involved in political party activities in contradiction with the Tamil Nadu government servants' conduct rules.

Dr Subbiah Shanmugam has approached the Madras High Court seeking a direction to quash the state government's order suspending him from the position of head of the department, surgical oncology, Government Hospital, Royapettah. (UNI)