Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Vaiko remand extended

By K. Subramanian

KANCHEEPURAM JUNE 18. The senior defence counsel, G.Devadoss, continuing his arguments on discharge petitions filed by eight MDMK party leaders (except Mr.Vaiko), arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, today contended before the POTA court at Poonamalle, near Chennai, that Section 21 was ultra vires the Constitution.

Mr. Devadoss said the main ingredients of Section 21 were that there should be a meeting, the meeting should be knowingly arranged to support an organisation or further activities of an organisation and the organisation should be a terrorist in nature.

After the arguments were completed, the special judge, L.Rajendran, extended the remand of the MDMK general secretary, Mr.Vaiko and eight other leaders, Ganesamurthy; Veera Ilavarasan; Bhoominathan and Pulavar Seventhiappan; the former MLA, P.S.Manian; the advocate, Alagusundaram; Nagarajan and Madurai Ganesan, till Friday (June 20) and posted the case for arguments by the public prosecutor that day.

The defence counsel said Mr.Vaiko, first accused in the case, at a public meeting at Tirumangalam near Madurai on June 29, 2002 referred to a large number of problems facing the country, including problems faced by the people of Tamil Nadu. Mr.Vaiko expressed concern on atrocities on Tamils in Sri Lanka. None of the accused, who addressed the gathering, invited the people of Tamil Nadu to support terrorist activities of any organisation. He submitted that the speech should be judged in its entirety and not be read in parts.

The judge asked the public prosecutor to present his submission on Friday.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Kerala ultras brainwashing youth
• We are ushering in spiritual revolution: Jayalalithaa
• Third front not possible now, says CPI (M)
• Azhagiri bail plea dismissed
• Girls grab six top medical ranks
• No change in TNCC leadership now
• Cyber porn victim's mother seeks action against police
• Artistic freedom vs. fears of violence
• CMC Vellore not under SWS, T.N. tells S.C.
• Maran's son will foot the medical bill: Karunanidhi
• Vaiko remand extended
• Redrawing LS, Assembly constituencies may be delayed
• Urban areas gain in delimitation

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu