Tamil Nadu: BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan detained during protest against TASMAC scam

Soundararajan was detained from her residence amid heavy security.

When she was taken by police, Soundararajan told the media, "They are arresting me from my house... I won't go separately. I want everyone to come with me..."

The BJP leader had flagged the Enforcement Directorate's finding of alleged irregularities worth Rs. 1,000 crore in the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC).

Soundararajan has accused Tamil Nadu minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise, Senthil Balaji, of being the kingpin.

She has accused Balaji of being involved in every scam.

The detention triggered local BJP leaders' resistance and protests on the street. A scuffle between police and local workers was seen in video footage.

BJP state president K Annamalai has accused the DMK government of launching a crackdown on the saffron camp out of fear.

Annamalai posted on X earlier this morning, "You have been using lower-level officials for your own ends, using people who have been glued together for years.

"Is it because you declared the protest democratically and announced the date of the blockade in advance that you are able to engage in such cowardly actions? What can you do if we suddenly launch a protest one day, without announcing a date?"