MADURAI
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to professor R. Fatima of Thoothukudi, who was actively involved in the anti-Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi.
Justice G.R. Swaminathan, hearing her petition apprehending arrest by Thoothukudi police under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly) and 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC, granted her anticipatory bail.
In her petition, Ms. Fatima said she was actively involved in the anti-Sterlite protests and had filed a public interest litigation petition seeking a direction against Vedanta Ltd., from commissioning its second copper smelter unit. While hearing the petition, the High Court Bench directed Vedanta Ltd., to cease construction activities at the plant.
The petitioner claimed that she was always aware that her activism was of peaceful nature. Only recently did she realise that she was included in a first information report for voicing anti-Sterlite slogans. She was tagged along with Thirumurugan Gandhi and 10 others in the FIR.
In the wake of multiple FIRs being registered against people, she said she apprehended arrest by the police. Hence, she moved the court seeking anticipatory bail, she said adding she was willing to cooperate with the police during investigation.
