The police on Wednesday arrested the second person who was involved in a security breach at Town Hall in Coimbatore on Tuesday, minutes before the scheduled arrival of Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan.
A senior police officer said the arrested person, Anish Rahman, 26, of Saramedu, had been involved in several drug peddling cases.
The police were on the lookout for Mr. Rahman after he and his friend, Ashik, 25, of Karumbukadai, breached security at Town Hall and rode their two-wheeler past several policemen through a barricaded stretch on Big Bazaar Street. The two-wheeler met with an accident around 500 metres away, following which the two escaped. The police arrested Mr. Ashik on Tuesday evening, and a court granted him bail.
“They were not aware of the VVIP visit. The duo entered the barricaded stretch under the influence of alcohol. They were booked for various offences, including driving under the influence of alcohol and rash driving,” said the officer. Mr. Rahman was produced before a court after his arrest on Wednesday, and was granted bail.
The incident, which occurred at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, sparked commotion as the Vice-President was scheduled to reach Coimbatore Corporation office complex at Town Hall around the same time to garland a statue of Mahatma Gandhi.
The police had barricaded a 200-metre stretch of the road abutting the Corporation building for the visit of the VVIP. The Vice-President’s visit was delayed for 30 minutes due to the incident.
Published – October 29, 2025 09:05 pm IST
