Former minister seeks HC for anticipatory bail

Former AIADMK minister Pandiarajan today moved the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail in a case of alleged disrespect by him to the national flag while campaigning for the April 12 RK Nagar assembly bypoll.
The Election Commission had cancelled the bypoll yesterday.
On April 6, a replica of a coffin with late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's figurine draped in national flag had been used by the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) faction as part of the bypoll campaign, highlighting its demand for a probe into her death.
The 'coffin' was placed over the bonnet of an open jeep, with supporters of former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam seeking votes for their candidate E Madhusudanan.

Pandiarajan, a former school education minister and a key loyalist of Panneerselvam had highlighted their demand for the judicial probe during the campaign.
The figurine of Jayalalithaa draped in national flag was a replica of the original and attracted attention.
An election officer had filed a complaint with the police alleging that Pandiarajan's action violated norms and disrespected the national flag, following which an FIR was registered.