“Though this is a false case registered against me, the magistrate calling an accused to her chamber itself is against law. She was doing kattapanchayat (kangaroo court) on behalf of the Minister,” alleged Haribabu. In fact, in the tape, the public prosecutor is heard assuring Haribabu that they have got the best judge for such mediation.

Another tape showed a top cop advising the affected parties to insist on a court inquiry.The Madras High Court, earlier this year, had directed the district authorities to rehabilitate the evictees in the same plot at the earliest, though the direction was not heeded, he added.

Though the Minister was not directly shown on the tape, it was beyond suspicion that the officials were acting on his behalf, he said.