The PMK has filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court seeking a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of CBI into the cases registered for a month from April 30 last year against party members and leaders. It also said the detention of the party leaders under the Goondas Act and the NSA should be investigated.
Justice B. Rajendran on Tuesday ordered notice to the authorities, including the Chief Secretary and the Home Secretary, and the AIADMK, represented by its general secretary, Jayalalithaa, returnable by four weeks.
In the petition, filed through counsel K. Balu, the PMK president, G.K. Mani, said the PMK had launched a campaign against the Dravidian parties in the State. Therefore, the AIADMK had a political animosity against the party, he said.
On April 25 last year, the Vanniar Sangam organised the annual ‘Chithirai Muzhu Nilavu Youth Festival,’ at Mamallapuram near here. The event was about a common man questioning the past and present rulers on their acts of omission and commission. When the volunteers were coming to the venue, two persons – Selvaraj and Vivek – were murdered at Marakkanam in Villupuram district. The party vehicles were prevented by VCK members. Subsequently, there was violence at Marakkanam. The police turned a blind eye to the developments.
Later, PMK leaders were arrested for staging a demonstration at Villupuram demanding a judicial enquiry into the Marakkanam attack and murders. Some others were arrested in connection with other cases. Nearly 8000 cases were ‘foisted’ on the partymen for allegedly disrupting security and law and order. Detention orders were passed against nearly 134 persons under the NSA and the Goondas Act. These detentions were quashed by the Madras High Court. As such the liberty of the party workers was deprived by the police, Mr.Mani said.
