Tamil Nadu: NIA Files Charge Sheet Against Accused In Raj Bhavan Petrol Bomb Case

Last year, the accused Karukka Vinoth hurled two petrol bombs at Raj Bhavan Gate - 1 in Chennai on October 25.

NIA re-registered the case related to Raj Bhavan petrol bomb incident on November 10. ( Image Source :X/@rajbhavan_tn )

The National Investigation Agency charge sheeted a person in Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan petrol bomb case on Friday. The charge sheet naming Vinoth alias Karukka Vinoth was filed before NIA court at Poonamallee in Chennai. In a release, NIA said, "The charge-sheeted accused,  Vinoth @ Karukka Vinoth, had hurled two petrol bombs in quick succession at the Raj Bhavan Gate - 1 in Chennai on 25th October 2023 in the case RC-03/2023/NIA/CHE. The bomb had resulted in an explosion and damages to the Government property located at the gate."

The hurling of a bomb at Raj Bhavan marked the fourth incident involving the accused. In previous instances, NIA said, the accused had thrown petrol bombs at government establishments, including the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) outlet in T. Nagar, Teynampet Police Station and BJP Tamil Nadu State Head Office in Chennai.

On the October 25 incident, NIA said, "The accused, intending to overawe the constitutional authority of the State Governor, had stolen Petrol from a bike in SM Nagar, collected empty liquor bottles to fill them with petrol, walked up from Teynampet to Raj Bhawan, and had hurled two Petrol bombs at the Raj Bhavan gate at around 2.40 pm."

Following the incident, the police on duty immediately stopped the accused. However, he reportedly threatened them. 

Based on a special report by the Police personnel, NIA said, a case was initially registered at Guindy Police Station under sections 436, 353, 506 (II) of IPC, section 4 of TNPPDL Act, 1992 and section 3 of Explosive Substances Act, 1908. Later, NIA re-registered the case on November 10.