HC: Merge all Sterlite stir cases as one

During the violence that broke out during anti-Sterlite rally and the next day, 13 were killed and scores were injured. Close to 200 cases were registered and later a CB-CID probe was ordered. 

Already, John Vincent, a petitioner from Madurai, and Ponpandi, another petitioner moved the court seeking its intervention for a prompt investigation through a case with a crime number – ‘191’ filed by the SIPCOT police. This specific case had all necessary details concerning the violence and hence other petitions should be merged as a single case for investigation, the petitioners prayed. 

When the petition came up for hearing, a division bench, felt that the police action in filing cases against the protesters was like threatening them and asking whether they would participate in further protest. 

The bench asked whether such cases were filed intentionally to re-arrest those persons who get bail. After making these observations, the bench wondered why the government was behind the police. Hence, the bench directed to merge all cases and investigate them as a single case.

The Madurai Bench of HC quashed the detention of four cadre belonging to the Naam Tamizhar Katchi, under Goondas Act. A division bench after hearing the petitions filed by Esakidurai, district coordinator of the party, Thoothukudi, Guruparani, Sivakumar and Arun alias Raja, passed the order.