HC dismisses petition seeking cancellation of bail to Vaike

Chennai, Feb 19 (UNI) Madras High Court today dismissed a petition by the Tamil Nadu Government, challenging an order of a lower court, granting bail to MDMK General Secretary Vaiko in the POTA case.

A Division Bench comprising Justices R Balasubramaniam and Praba Sridevan dismissed the petition filed by the State Government, however allowed the petition filed by Vaiko, seeking to relax the bail conditions.

In its order, the Bench said since it found that granting of bail was based on prima facia materials, it did not find any ground to interfere with the order of the trial judge.

Accordingly, the petition was dismissed. The conditions imposed on the petitioner by the order of the trial judge while granting bail were totally relaxed. And the petition stands allowed, the Bench observed.

Following Vaiko's speech in a public meeting, allegedly supporting the banned organisation LTTE, he was arrested by the police on July 11, 2002. On February 7, 2004, the POTA court in Poonamalee granted him bail and imposed certain conditions.

Immediately, the state government moved the Madras High Court, seeking to cancel the bail.

Meanwhile, VAIKO had also filed a petition, to relax the conditions.

UNI