Chennai: Fresh cases of sedition and murder have been registered against R R Gopal, editor of Tamil bi-weekly 'Nakkeeran', arrested in Chennai on April 11 night by the Crime Branch-CID, police said on April 12.

Gopal was arrested by the police outside the office of the magazine at about 20:45 hours (IST) after he was made an accused in the case relating to one Rajamani of Satyamangalam, who has been missing for the last three years, and taken to the CB- CID headquarters.

A case was also registered against Gopal after an unlicenced revolver and a pamphlet in support of the outlawed Tamil Nadu Liberation Army was found on his person when he was searched by the police. He has been charged for sedition and under the Arms Act.

A city magistrate remanded Gopal to judicial custody till April 25 and he has been lodged in the central prison.

CB-CID said that he would also be taken to Satyamangalam for remand in the "missing man case".

Besides the two new cases, Gopal is accused in 11 other cases. He has secured bail in all but the two latest ones.

Three Journalists' bodies - Madras Union of Journalists, Chennai Press Club and Journalists' Action Group, expressed anguish over the arrest of Gopal and said it was regrettable that police had "ignored clear-cut guidelines" laid down by the Supreme Court while effecting arrests.

In a statement, they demanded his immediate release, pending "comprehensive and impartial investigation" into the charges against him.

PTI