Chennai : A DMK councillor from Vellore, who went into hiding after making a provocative remark against chief minister C Joseph Vijay while referring to the 2025 Karur stampede, was arrested from a party functionary’s house in Villupuram on Wednesday. Police also arrested the functionary for sheltering him and misleading the police.
The video went viral on social media, prompting Puzhal police to register a case against Saravanan on Tuesday under Sections 192 (provocation with intent to cause a riot), 296(b) (obscene acts), 353(1) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 351(3) (criminal intimidation).
Police said Prem Kumar was arrested for providing shelter to Saravanan while he was evading arrest. DMK supporters gathered outside the prison and raised slogans against the state govt. However, police traced Saravanan to Prem Kumar’s residence in Villupuram.
A special team arrested both men on Wednesday.
Following the registration of the case, Saravanan went into hiding, after which police formed three special teams to trace him. During the investigation, another DMK functionary, Prem Kumar, attempted to mislead police by claiming that Saravanan had left for Bengaluru.

