Mathanraj Viveganandan, a 36-year-old married man known for his good character, found himself in court after a confrontation erupted near his mother’s corner shop in Handsworth. On the evening of March 12, a disturbance began inside the shop, where Viveganandan works, involving a group of men who allegedly threatened and attacked him.
In response, Viveganandan grabbed a baseball bat from the store and approached the Indian restaurant next door, known as Special Spices, wielding the bat in an attempt to defend himself amid the escalating conflict. Surveillance footage confirmed that he was involved in the altercation and showed him carrying the bat.
When police arrived shortly before 8 pm, they found Viveganandan had dropped the bat. He reportedly expressed frustration to officers, saying, “Some people pissed me off, I should have killed all of them.” Despite this statement, his legal representatives emphasized his otherwise clean record and good standing in the community.
READ MORE: I Tried the Best Protein Shakes That Keep Selling Out – and One Flavour Wins
READ MORE: New 55mph Motorway Speed Limit Proposed by Green Party in England
At Birmingham Magistrate’s Court on March 31, Viveganandan pled guilty to possession of an offensive weapon. Prosecutor Iszabell Hodoroaba outlined how the police responded to reports of disorder at the public house adjacent to the shop and detailed the CCTV evidence.
His lawyer highlighted that Viveganandan’s previous conviction from 2010 was unrelated to this incident. They explained that Viveganandan only acted in reaction to being threatened and attacked and that although he acknowledges mistakenly returning to the scene with the bat, he ultimately dropped it and cooperated with police.
The court has adjourned the case until June 12, pending further reports. This incident serves as a reminder of the complexities faced by individuals trying to protect themselves and their community under difficult circumstances.