Madras High Court reserves order on plea challenging goondas act on activist

Chennai: Madras high court has reserved order on a petition filed by Tamil activist Thirumurugan Gandhi, founder of May 17 Movement, and three others challenging their detention under Goondas Act.

On completion of arguments by prosecution and the petitioners the division bench comprising Justices A. Selvam and Pon. Kalaiyarasan, has reserved the orders and posted the matter to September 19.

Saidapet, Egmore, Royapettah and Nungambakkam police arrested Thirumurugan Gandhi, Tamilar Vidyal Katchi functionaries — Tyson, Jegan alias Ilamaran, Arunkumar and 13 others in May for staging a protest at the Marina beach in memory of Tamils who were killed in war between Sri Lankan government and the erstwhile Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. They were detained at Puzhal prison. The cops detained Thirumurugan Gandhi, Tyson, Jegan and Arunkumar under the Goondas Act.

In November last year, the Nungambakkam police registered case against Gandhi for staging demonstration opposing the demonetisation policy introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the move to scrap Rs 500 and Rs1,000 currency notes. The cops alleged that though they had not granted permission to use public address system, he used it during the agitation at Valluvar Kottam condemning the Centre’s action.