Trouble erupted when some cadre, who were present on the office premises, raised objection to the flying squad entering the party office, sources said. Acting on a tip-off that huge amounts of money were stashed in the office to be distributed to the voters, a flying squad team was about to conduct search operations on the premises.

It was said that cash to the tune of Rs 3 crore was kept in the office room. Over hundred party men  who were present at the locality attempted to prevent the money being taken away and even attempted to take it away from the spot. The police personnel, who accompanied the team, were also denied entry into the office and some cadre reportedly asked the police to vacate the office premises.

After a quarrel between the party men and  policemen led to a scuffle, four shots were fired in the air to disperse the crowd. Former MLA Thangatamilselvan is pitted against O Panneerselvam’s son P Raveendranath Kumar in Theni constituency.

Theni Superintendent of Police V Baskaran along with a team inspected the spot. The SP said after the police opened fire, the flying squad entered the office and seized the cash. The AMMK cadre had, in the meanwhile,  already taken away some cash from the office.Four persons, who behaved in an unruly manner, have been arrested.