Cheran breaks down, police book him, daughter’s friend

CHENNAI: Actor-director Cheran broke down on Sunday while explaining “the irony of life”. Speaking to reporters at a press conference, he said, “I have always stood for love, beyond caste and religion, but now my daughter is trapped and I am being made out to be a villain.”
But, with wife Selvarani by his side, he said he would not change his stand against his daughter’s relationship with Chandru.The director’s daughter Damini had alleged in a complaint on Friday that Chandru had been threatened by men hired by her father.
The director’s tears apparently did not move the central crime branch police, who on Sunday evening registered FIRs against Cheran and Damini’s boyfriend based on complaints filed by Damini. Police booked Chandru under Information Technology Act for harassing her online and charged Cheran under section 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation).
At the press conference in a movie studio in Vadapalani Cheran said Chandru had even sent messages to his elder daughter, claiming that he loved her.
Certain sections of the media had suggested that Cheran’s opposition to Damini’s relationship was based on Chandru’s caste. Rebutting the allusions to his caste, Cheran said, “Kindly don’t compare it with the Dharmapuri incident. I brought her up without any luxuries, with no religious or caste prejudices. I could not send her off with a person I know is a cheat,” he said.
Cheran said Chandru had cheated girls earlier and police had registered a case against him. “How can I send my daughter with a person who doesn’t value or respect women?” he asked.
Police on Saturday sent Damini to a government home and police questioned her and Chandru, a dancer in a reality show. Cheran revealed that Chandru wanted to act in movies. “We suspect that he has been making use of my daughter to get into films. He wanted to become a hero in my movie and wanted me to recommend him to others,” he said, adding that he had refused to oblige.
Cheran and director Ameer said the KK Nagar police had earlier registered a case of cheating against Chandru. “The case was later settled. We have gathered information about many such cases. There is enough evidence to show that Chandru’s character is questionable,” he said.
Chandru has denied allegations and said Cheran was trying to separate him from Damini.