'Attack' Pandi's wife agrees to hand over usurped house

MADURAI: Facing threat of legal action, the wife of DMK functionary V P Pandi alias 'Attack' Pandi on Sunday agreed to hand over a Rs 2 crore worth house to its rightful owner that was allegedly grabbed by her husband.
Police picked up Dhayalu, the wife of Pandi as well as her brother Karunanidhi and Pandi's associate Malik Basha based on a complaint from K Prithiviraj of Villapuram.Prithviraj had said that Pandi, his wife and his associates had grabbed his Rs two crore worth house. However, during interrogation, Dhayalu agreed to hand over the house following which she was let off by the anti-land grab cell sleuths. "She has given a written statement agreeing to return the house to the rightful owner," said a police officer.
However, Karunanidhi and Malik Basha were arrested as they had other charges pending against them including alleged intimidation of Prithiviraj.
Police said that Prithiviraj, a development officer at LIC had built the three-storeyed house in 2004 after obtaining a loan of Rs 20 lakh from LIC. Two years later, Pandi, identifying himself as a businessman sought Prithiviraj to rent the house to him. Deceived by his words, Prithiviraj rented out one floor of the house to him on a two-year contract. However, Pandi failed to pay the monthly rent of Rs 4500 ever since he occupied the house, but Prithiviraj maintained silence as he deducted the rent from the Rs 50,000 Pandi had paid as advance. After the advance was exhausted, he insisted Pandi to vacate, but the latter refused.
In 2008, when Prithiviraj decided to lodge a complaint, Pandi allegedly threatened to murder his family members. Besides, he also demanded transfer of the ownership to him. Later, Pandi chased away the tenants on other floors of the house and occupied the entire building.
In July last year, police arrested seven persons in connection with the case including Pandi, but all managed to come out on bail. Recently, Prithiviraj had made a fresh complaint following which Pandi's wife was interrogated.