MADURAI: ‘Essar’ Gopi — a confidant of Union Minister M K Alagiri and an accused in the murder of autorickshaw driver M Pandiarajan — was booked under the Goondas Act on Thursday. His brother Easwaran was also booked under the same Act. Both had earlier surrendered before a court.Pandiarajan was found dead on April 16, 2009, and an accident case was initially registered. After the regime change in Tamil Nadu, the case took a different turn and a murder case was registered.It is believed that Pandiarajan was murdered due to issues related to the renting of a property. The auto rickshaw driver was reportedly tortured by a gang, which later used a couple of cars to run over him to camouflage the crime as an accident.In his confession statement, Gopi admitted to having committed the heinous crime as per the instructions from ‘Pottu’ Suresh.Based on this, Suresh was later named the prime accused in the murder case.Considering the gravity of the offence and the subsequent threat to the society, SP Asra Garg recommended that both Gopi and his brother Easwaran be booked under Goondas Act.After a recommendation was sent for approval of Madurai Collector U Sagayam, who ordered their detention under Goondas Act on Wednesday night.Gopi was also an accused in a land grabbing complaint lodged by Pappa and Sivanandi, a couple from Thirumangalam.Suresh was arrested in connection with the case, which was registered by the district crime branch.
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