The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday called for video evidence, if any, and reports filed before a vacation court, while hearing the case filed by the State which sought cancellation of bail of anti-Sterlite protesters. The State contended that a vacation sessions court in Thoothukudi had granted bail to at least 65 anti-Sterlite protesters without serving notice to the prosecution.
Justice G. R. Swaminathan, who took up the plea for hearing, called for the documents and adjourned the case till June 27.
The State, in its plea, claimed that as many as 65 persons were arrested on May 23 and cases booked against them for indiscriminately attacking and injuring policemen.
The cases were filed under Sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992.
A vacation sessions court granted them bail without serving notice to the prosecution. The State sought quashing of the bail granted to the 65 protesters stating that it was denied a chance to offer an explanation.
