Route Thala clash: Arrested youth submits proof of innocence

The student, S Madhan of Periyapalayam, has also submitted in court that he was a student of Pachaiyappa’s College but he had not been attending classes since June as he was under medication for a facial injury at Stanley Government Hospital. He has submitted his medical records as proof.

Madhan also alleged that he broke his right hand while he was in police custody. This is contrary to police’s version that Madhan hurt himself when he tried to escape from them on July 24.

In another version, when photos of Madhan and another suspect Suruthi leaked on social media with their fractured hands, the police said that they slipped and fell in the toilet and broke their limbs.

But, when contacted, senior police officers said that Madhan was identified and secured based on the inputs from the victims. They also said that Madhan had been instrumental to the clash even if he was not physically present during it.

The CCTV footage submitted in support of Madhan’s claim shows him walking by at Periyalapalyam bus stand at 13.07 on July 23. Advocate KS Raju who appeared on behalf of Madhan argued that he could not have reached the spot of crime in Arumbakkam, 42 km away, within one hour from Periyapalayam. Another key evidence highlighted in support of Madhan was that he was wearing the same black colour t-shirt both in the CCTVfootage retrieved from Periyapalayam, bus stand and in the photos taken inpolice custody.

Principal sessions judge R Selvakumar who heard the case granted bail Madhanon executing a bond for sum Rs 10,000 and ordered him to appear before Judicial Magistrate in Chengalpattu at 10.30 am every day until further orders. He also ordered police to register a fresh FIR if Mahdan goes missing without cooperating for investigation.

The police had arrested Madhan and Suruthi on the night of July 23 after videos of clashes between two groups of Pachaiyappa’s College students in Arumbakkam over the ‘route thala’ dispute came to light. Both were seen with bandages around their hands the next day.

Four more students were arrested in the following days.