Hours after Mr Kandasamy died, the words "Who Killed Ragu" were painted in large white lettering on the road as anger spilled over on social media over his death. It soon became an internet campaign after an activist started an online petition demanding action against the ruling AIADMK.
Mr Kanadsamy worked in the US and was back home to meet a prospective bride. The activists said that on Friday night, his bike crashed into the huge arch temporarily set up on the road by the state's ruling AIADMK for its MGR centenary celebrations. As he hit the structure and fell from his bike, they alleged, a truck ran him over.
Raghupathy Kandasamy, who was to return to the US over the weekend, was not wearing a helmet, police said
The police claim that Mr Kandasamy did not hit the arch or any protruding structure. "He died after the rear wheel of the lorry ran over him. We have CCTV footage from the nearby area which clearly indicates this," a senior police officer said.
The police officer denied reports that the activists who painted the graffiti had been arrested. "We are seeing if their action would amount to instigation and spreading rumours," he said.
Manoj A, an activist who had complained about the signboards said, "this is scuttling freedom of expression and intimidation by the police to safeguard the ruling AIADMK."
p
Opposition party the PMK has demanded that a case be registered against Chief Minister E Palaniswami. A local legislator of main opposition party the DMK has moved court seeking the removal of all such illegal structures in Coimbatore and action against government officials for allowing them to be put up.
Video: Woman Tries To Jump Off Mumbai's Atal Setu, Saved By Driver, Cops Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources Private Jets, Luxury Cars: Lavish Life Of "Ketamine Queen" Jasveen Sangha Doctors Begin 24-Hour Nationwide Strike Over Kolkata Rape-Murder: 10 Points "Rs 2 Lakh Spent On Each Tree": Mumbai Metro Body's Revelation Sparks Row First Test Flight Of India's Human Space Mission Rocket Likely In December Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.