One more held for ‘spreading rumours’ on Jaya’s health

Chennai: One more person was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly spreading rumours on Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s health on social media, taking the total number of those detained on similar charges to eight.

“Sagayam Antony, a resident of Tuticorin District was spreading rumours, false information on social media on the health of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and he was arrested today,” a senior police official said.

The 33-year old man, a grocer, was brought here and produced before a court which remanded him to judicial custody.

With this, the total number of persons arrested on the charge of spreading rumours about the health status of Jayalaithaa, undergoing treatment at the Apollo Hospital here since September 22, has gone up to eight.

Police have warned of stern action against those spreading rumours on the health of Jayalalitha and have registered around 50 cases so far in this connection.

Those arrested so far include a bank clerk and a jewellery appraiser in Coimbatore on a complaint from an AIADMK functionary that they had made ridiculous, adverse remarks about Jayalalithaa’s health condition during banking hours.