Around 40 persons, belonging to social justice movement led by its leader Paneerselvam were arrested when they tried to wave black flags at the actor.
Sixteen activists belonging to Dalit Viduthalai Iyakkam were taken into custody while they were on their way to the venue of the conference, organised by Coimbatore Cattle Care Welfare Trust, black flags seized from them, police said
The contention of the agitators was that why the actor, who was showing sympathy on animals like cows, was not not raising his voice against the human beings who were carrying night soil and also cleaning drainages by hands, police said.