MADURAI
Two advocates, S. Vanchinathan and K. Hariragavan, who have been booked for participating in the anti-Sterlite agitation in Thoothukudi, have moved the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail.
In their petition filed on Thursday, the advocates said that they had peacefully protested seeking closure of the plant and were not involved in any kind of violence during the protest.
They claimed that they rendered legal service to those who were in need and said that Thoothukudi police had booked cases against them under Sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992.
The advocates said that the police abused their power and registered several cases against them and the allegations against them were not true.
Taking up the plea for hearing, Justice G.R. Swaminathan adjourned the case for further hearing. The court directed the authorities not to initiate any action against the petitioners until then.
