The Thondamuthur Police arrested two people — L Ramesh and R Suresh — working for Canara Bank in Coimbatore for allegedly spreading rumours about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's health and talking about her in a derogatory manner.
According to the police, AIADMK member Punitha Devi went to the bank a few days ago where she heard the two men talking about Jayalalithaa in a derogatory manner. The men threatened her when she questioned them, following which she filed a complaint at the Thondamuthur Police Station.
The police have registered a complaint under the required sections of the Indian Penal Code for using obscene words publicly and criminally intimidating the woman, the Hindu reported.
The two accused will be produced before a judicial magistrate court to be remanded in judicial custody, the police added.
The AIADMK had previously filed four complaints against people who were allegedly spreading false rumours about the CM's health on social media platforms. The party has consistently denied reports that Jayalalithaa is seriously unwell.
There were unconfirmed reports doing the rounds that Jayalalithaa was put on ventilator support after her condition deteriorated. However, her party denied all such reports and said that she was "responding well to treatment" and urging supporters to not believe false rumours.
The Chennai Police had also filed an FIR against a woman for spreading rumours about the CM's health on September 30. The AIADMK also tweeted saying that the IT wing of the police had registered a complaint against a woman.
Based on the complaint from AIADMK IT Wing Chennai Police files an FIR against a lady for spreading rumours about TN CM Amma's health.
— AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) September 30, 2016
Two Canara Bank employees Ramesh and Suresh arrested in Coimbatore for spreading rumours regarding Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa's health — ANI (@ANI_news) October 14, 2016
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President Karunanidhi had also asked the Tamil Nadu government to put an end to all rumours about Jayalalithaa's health by releasing an official statement along with her photographs.
However, the AIADMK refused to provide any photographs saying that it wasn't required and that Jayalalithaa was recovering well.
