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On January 13, editor-in-chief of _Narada News_ Mathew Samuel released a video claiming that two of his sources, KV Sayan and Valayar Manoj, were “forcefully kidnapped” from Delhi. Earlier

on January 11, Friday, Samuel had released a 16.13-minute video, where Sayan and Manoj had come on camera to talk about the 2017 burglary at former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s Kodanad

estate. Both Sayan and Manoj are accused in the 2017 break-in case. On January 11, the 16.13-minute video was released at a press conference at New Delhi’s Press Club of India. At the

presser, Samuel, who appeared along with Sayan and Manoj, also claimed that Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi Palanisamy was behind the robbery. Samuel’s allegations are based on claims

made by the duo in the video as well as the press meet. According to the two accused, Jayalalithaa’s former driver, C Kanakaraj, had told them that Palanisamy had instructed him to retrieve

Rs 2,000 crore and important documents from the former chief minister’s estate. In April 2017, Kanakaraj had died in a car accident. His death came a week after the murder of a Kodanad

estate security guard, Om Bahadur, who had confronted the dacoits. In a separate car incident, Sayan, who was travelling with his family, also met with an accident. His wife and child were

killed in the accident. An _India Today_ report notes that it was Sayan who had identified Kanakaraj as the mastermind behind the robbery. He had also claimed that only Kanagaraj knew what

was taken from the bungalow. Following these allegations, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief MK Stalin demanded a probe by a special investigation team. He has also demanded Palaniswamy’s

resignation and protection for Samuel, _India Today_ reported.   These allegations, however, have been dismissed by Palaniswamy who called them “politically motivated”. Referring to Samuel’s

16.13-minute video, he said, “There are some allegations that have been made against me in a documentary made by former _Tehelka_ editor on the Kodanad death and dacoity. There are no facts

in it and it is politically motivated.” The CM also warned of “serious action against the media organisation and those behind this fake news”. The duo was picked up by Chennai police a day

after Palaniswamy’s press meet. _The News Minute_ reported, “the two had been picked up for inquiry based on a complaint filed by AIADMK leader Rajan Chellappa’s son, Satyan.” According to

Samuel, Palaniswamy is behind this. “Just 1o minutes back, myself, Sayan and Manoj … we are talking to each other. After that, I left from Sector 9, Dwarka. One private vehicle, with a

police sticker (sic) took away Sayan and Manoj. It is not taken away, they forcefully put him and kidnapped. I strongly believe it is the hand of Palaniswamy,” Samuel can be heard saying in

the video. A day after the presser, the _Narada News_ chief had also written to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requesting “adequate security” for both Sayan and Manoj’s families. In

his letter, Samuel wrote that the duo had “opened up to the media that the plot they are accused of was articulated and conspired by the current Chief Minister of Tamilnadu Edappady

Palanisamy (sic). This revelation (sic) had created big political issues to the ruling party of Tamilnadu.” Samuel also wrote that while Sayan and Manoj were in Delhi, their families, in

Kerala, were receiving threat calls from various spots, including calls from the Tamilnadu police. “I Kindly request you to provide adequate security for their families in Kerala as soon as

possible,” Samuel’s letter read.