Chennai: The Madras high court stayed all further proceedings in a criminal case, pending before the district munsif/judicial magistrate, Thittakudi, Cuddalore district, against Vanniyar Sangam leader and PMK MLA Kaduvetti Guru, for his speech at a wedding function, which was allegedly intended to promote enmity between different groups.
Justice C.T. Selvam granted the interim stay for two weeks, while ordering notice to the inspector of police, Pennadam police station, and posting after two weeks further hearing of the petition filed by Guru, which sought to quash the order of the lower court, refusing to discharge him from the criminal case.
According to the petitioner, it was alleged that on February 8, 2013 at a wedding hall, he had made a speech to create communal disharmony between two groups. The inspector had registered a case for offences under sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony) and 505 (1) (b) (statements conducive to public mischief) of IPC, and filed a final report.
The entire allegation made in the complaint was without any substance and there was no material against him for prosecuting him under criminal law. The allegation made in the complaint was totally misconceived with mala fide intention and political vendetta. The petitioner was an MLA of Jayankondam constituency.
He had participated in the wedding and expressed his view to the newly married couple and their relatives that “We have to be careful to keep away from the communal marriage drama”.
He filed a petition to discharge himself from the case, but the judicial magistrate, Thittakudi, dismissed his petition. Hence, he had filed the present petition to quash the order of the JM.
