Sagayam, a shopkeeper, was arrested for allegedly spreading rumours about Jayalalithaa's health.
A 28-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly spreading rumours about the health of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on social media. He is the eighth man to be arrested over the issue.
Chennai police have confirmed the arrest. They say an FIR has been filed and is now in custody for further questioning. It is not clear though what Sagayam, a resident of Tuticorin, had shared on social media.
The family said Sagayam, a shopkeeper, was picked up from home this morning by a police team. Sagayam is married and has a 3-month old child.
The police, they say, had come to question him regarding his passport. Later, they were told that he was being taken to Chennai for questioning regarding spreading rumours about Jayalalithaa's health.
"He just forwarded a post that some friend had sent him. He is not affiliated to any political party. We will fight for justice and makes sure he gets out," said Selvarani, Sagayam's mother.
The police action over spreading of rumours on Jayalalithaa's health - which has been criticized as an overdrive in many quarters -- had started earlier this month as the Chief Minister's hospital stay prolonged.
So far around 50 cases have been registered and the police have warned of a seven-year jail term for those found guilty.
AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi, has justified the police action, saying, "The police and the party issued warnings and only when they did not stop have they been arrested.".
The hugely popular Chief Minister has been hospitalized since September 22, and the long stretches without updates on her health from the hospital had caused much concern among her supporters. The level of concern even induced the Madras High Court to order the government to release regular bulletins.