The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Habeas corpus petition: court directs Minister, five others to file counter

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Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008
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Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Habeas corpus petition: court directs Minister, five others to file counter

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed Handlooms Minister N.K.K.P. Raja and five others to file their counter in a case relating to a habeas corpus petition.

The matter relates to a petition filed by N. Elangovan of Sullampatty post in Perundurai taluk in Erode district, who sought a direction to the police to produce his father-in-law P.C. Palanisamy, mother-in-law P. Malarvizhi and brother-in-law P. Sivabalan, and set them at liberty.

When the matter came up before a Division Bench, comprising Justices D. Murugesan and S. Palanivelu, all the three detenus were present. The proceedings were held in-camera. Mr. Palanisamy and his wife filed a joint affidavit stating that the Minister insisted that the two and their relative Guhamani appear before a ‘katta panchayat’ on a matter relating to their ancestral property. They refused and were threatened.

The affidavit stated that on July 22, goondas entered their house by breaking open the door. They took them in a car and detained them after a long journey. They were asked to take Rs.1.5 crore for the property and forced to sign on blank documents. On July 25, Mr. Sivabalan was released. Mr. Palanisamy and Ms. Malarvizhi submitted they were released on Sunday after the filing the habeas corpus petition. In its order, the Bench said the two were being permitted to stay in a relative’s house at Adyar here. The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Adyar, should provide police protection to the detenus until further orders. Mr. Sivabalan was set at liberty. The Bench posted the matter for August 12.

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