The Madras High Court Bench here today directed the Tamil Nadu police not to arrest DMDK chief Vijayakanth till January 5 in a case filed against him and 50 others in connection with alleged damage caused to a bus shelter during a demonstration in Thanjavur.
Justice G.Chockalingam gave the interim direction on an anticipatory bail petition by Vijayakanth who apprehended arrest in connection with the case filed against him under IPC sections 147 (punishment for rioting) and under Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act.
The case was registered on a complaint by ruling AIADMK MLA M Rangasamy of Thanjavur.
Vijayakanth denied the police charge of causing damage to public property during the demonstration staged yesterday in Thanjavur with police permission over compensation for farmers who had lost their crops.
He alleged that the complainant had put up the portrait of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to create problem for him. He (Vijayakanth) instructed his party worker to remove and keep the portrait safely so that it does not fall down.
Though he had given the instruction with good intention, the AIADMK MLA had lodged a complaint resulting in registration of the case, the DMDK chief said claiming that it had been done to stifle the voice of dissent.
Contending that no property was damaged, Vijayakanth's counsel said the court could appoint an advocate commissioner to find out if any damage had been done to the bus shelter as alleged by the police. If the report established the charge to be true, his client was willing to abide by court verdict.
The Judge asked the government advocate to get instructions in five minutes on the petitioner's plea.
However as the government advocate could not contact the higher ups, the Judge directed the police not to arrest the DMDK leader till January 5 and file a counter on that date.
