Police in Perundurai, Erode district of Tamil Nadu, have registered a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act against a marriage hall owner who allegedly refused to rent his venue to a Dalit family after learning of their caste. The accused, identified as C. Ravi, 45, who runs a small marriage hall near Anna Sewing in Perundurai, was taken into custody for questioning but had to be shifted to a private hospital after his blood pressure spiked during interrogation.
What Happened
The incident began in the last week of February when a 45-year-old Dalit woman named Rani approached Ravi to book his hall for her younger son’s wedding reception. Ravi initially agreed, telling her the hall was available on the required date.
However, when Rani returned to the hall on March 3 to pay the advance amount, the situation changed. According to a police officer investigating the case, Ravi asked Rani about her caste during the payment process. The moment he found out she belonged to the Dalit community, he reversed his decision and refused to rent out the hall.
Complaint Filed, FIR Registered the Same Evening
Rani did not stay silent. She went directly to the Perundurai police station that same evening and lodged a formal complaint against Ravi. Recognising the seriousness of the matter, police swiftly registered an FIR under the SC/ST Act and brought Ravi in for questioning.
During the interrogation, Ravi’s blood pressure rose sharply and his health deteriorated. He was immediately taken to a private hospital in Perundurai, where he is currently receiving treatment. The investigating officer confirmed that Ravi will be formally arrested as soon as his health condition improves and he is discharged from hospital.
