Father, son trade charges of bullying, fight over property

The long-running family feud between veteran industrialist and former Member of Parliament, M.A.M Ramaswamy and his adopted son M.A.M.R Muthiah took an ugly turn on Sunday with the former saying that he was being threatened.

“On Saturday evening, a group of 40 men who claimed to be from Mr. Muthiah’s side entered Chettinad House at MRC Nagar and my men were attacked for stopping them.” This is the father’s version of the story.

On the other hand, Mr. Muthiah’s lawyer, M.Murali, said Mr. Ramaswamy’s men closed his client’s office and denied access to his room at Chettinad House. “When Mr. Muthiah’s men stopped them they started attacking,” Mr. Murali said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Muthiah, who lives in Singapore, returned to the city on Saturday night.

According to senior police officers, servants of Mr. Ramaswamy locked the room of Mr. Muthiah alias Ayyapan. Subsequently, there was an argument between the two groups.

“Mr. Ramaswamy’s assistant brought 14 henchmen to Chettinad House. Following this, Mr. Muthiah’s security person Alagu lodged a police complaint. A police team headed by Mylapore Deputy Commissioner Balakrishnan interfered and unlocked the room. The issue was sorted out. The henchmen were arrested,” said a senior police officer.

After the police left Chettinad House, Mr. Ramaswamy spoke to reporters. “He (Muthiah) alleges that I spend too much money. He wants this house also. He has taken away 90 per cent of assets and now wants the remaining too,” he said, before leaving in a wheelchair.

Sources say that the current valuation of this house could be between Rs. 1,700 crore and Rs. 2,000 crore.

Mr. Muthiah told The Hindu, “Since I’m an adopted son, he sees me as a third party. I’m his only son and the house would come to me. This is a family issue and he does not want an amicable solution. In the last one year I have apologised to him so many times. He doesn’t want a solution.”