State revenue minister K. A. Sengottaiyan’s personal assistant Arumugam and his driver were arrested for verbally abusing a realtor’s wife while inebriated at Mylapore on Wednesday.

Arumugam, 38, and his driver Rajasekar, 40, were produced before the 18th judicial magistrate in Saidapet and lodged in Puzhal prison.

Police said Arumugam and his driver barged into the house of his landlord Govarthanan on Appu Street on Wednesday night and damaged furniture after Govarthanan demanded that the rent be paid.

When Govarthanan’s wife Sasikala tried to stop him, he verbally abused her and threatened her with dire consequences.

Arumugam, who stays on the ground floor of Govarthan’s house, failed to pay the rent on time and even refused to vacate the house, police said.

The realtor lodged a complaint with Mylapore police, who registered a case under Section 3(1) of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Destruction and Loss) Act, 294 (b)(abusing) 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) and 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation).