Maran, in a complaint to the Chennai Commissioner of Police, said the operators, rounded up since Friday night, “without being assigned reasons” were being intimidated into switching to the rival Hathway Cable network. The complaint further alleged that the police were threatening to foist cases against the operators if they refused to switch to Hathway signals. “They (police) have even gone to the extent of threatening the operators with dire consequences of false cases being framed against them if they fail to do so,” Maran said.

He said family members of the cable operators had been frantically calling him “all through the night” to know their whereabouts. “I am unable to understand how a situation like this can prevail in a democratic country like ours. I also do not understand how the police, who should be protecting them, can interfere in their normal and regular business and abuse their powers to favour one private company.”

“The high-handed action of the police was a clear violation of human rights and fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution,” Maran said in his complaint. He urged the city police chief to take “serious action against erring officials” under the jurisdiction of Joint Commissioner (South) Durairaj.

Many cable operators, belonging to the SCV, were picked up by the police in the morning and their whereabouts were not known. When contacted, Hathway officials refused to comment.

Maran indicated that innocent cable operators were being brought in the line of fire in the war against his family. He appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene and take action.