In a shocking case from Cuddalore district, a councillor of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), an ally of the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, was arrested for allegedly attacking a government employee inside the Bhuvanagiri Town Panchayat office. The incident, captured on CCTV, shows the councillor storming into the office and assaulting the staff member, with the footage quickly going viral and sparking public outrage.
According to reports, the incident occurred on 7 August when councillor Bharathidasan, also known as Kalimuthu, entered the panchayat office and insisted that a bill be issued to a contractor for works completed in his ward. The employee, Radhakrishnan, who was engaged in other official duties, requested time until evening to process the request. This reportedly led to a heated exchange, during which the councillor allegedly hurled verbal abuse, issued death threats, and punched the staffer in the face.
A senior police official confirmed the arrest, stating, “We have immediately arrested the VCK functionary on the basis of the government official’s complaint. There was an issue over payments. Investigation is on.”
The CCTV footage clearly depicts Bharathidasan physically assaulting Radhakrishnan, followed by a scuffle in which both men exchange blows. The attack has since triggered a political storm, with former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai posting the video on X and condemning the DMK-led government.
He wrote, “When public servants are attacked in their office, it is not just a breakdown of governance; it is a breakdown of trust in the very system meant to protect the people. In a shocking incident from Bhuvanagiri, a public servant was verbally abused and physically assaulted by a VCK Councillor, a member of the DMK Alliance. Threats of further attacks also followed this attack. This isn’t just an isolated act of lawlessness in the last 4 years in TN; it is a reflection of a political culture perpetrated by DMK that has normalised intimidation, violence, and absolute disregard for public institutions.“
When public servants are attacked in their office, it is not just a breakdown of governance; it is a breakdown of trust in the very system meant to protect the people.
In a shocking incident from Bhuvanagiri, a public servant was verbally abused and physically assaulted by a… pic.twitter.com/5zrzgwFctD
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) August 8, 2025
Following the assault, Radhakrishnan, who suffered facial injuries, was taken to Bhuvanagiri Taluk Hospital and later referred to Chidambaram Medical College Hospital. Kalimuthu also claimed that he was assaulted and received treatment at the same hospital before being taken into custody.
The VCK has not issued any public statement on the matter. Police have seized the CCTV footage and are continuing their investigation.
(With inputs from NDTV)
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