Vaiko moves HC to retain passport

Chennai, Nov 23 (UNI) MDMK General Secretary Vaiko today moved Madras High Court seeking a direction to the POTA Court to allow him retain his passport permanently.

Mr Vaiko, who was detained under the now-defunct POTA for 19 months, surrendered his passport before the POTA Court at suburban Poonamallee and took possession of it recently by filing a petition, for travelling abroad.

While handing over the passport to him, the POTA Court directed him to surrender his passport to it on December 7 following which Mr Vaiko moved the High Court.

Admitting his petition, a Bench comprising Mr Justice D Murugesan and Mr Justice V Periyakaruppaiah ordered notice, returnable by November 30, to the ''Q'' Branch police, the investigating agency in the POTA case against Mr Vaiko.

After ordering notice, the Bench posted the case to the same day.

Mr Vaiko and eight others were arrested under the POTA in July 2002 for addressing a public meeting in support of the banned LTTE.

He was incarcerated in the Vellore Central Prison for 19 months.

UNI