Chennai: The XIV metropolitan magistrate court, Egmore, at Allikulam, has granted bail to activist Thirumurugan Gandhi, leader of May 17 Movement, arrested in a case registered against him by police last year for staging demonstration opposing demonetisation policy of the Central government.
Six months after the case registered against him the Nungambakkam police made the formal arrest on Thursday. In November last year, the police registered the case against him for staging demonstration opposing the demonetisation policy introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Centre’s move to scrap old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 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.
When the bail plea came up for hearing before the XIV metropolitan magistrate court on Thursday, the judge Roslyn Durai has granted bail to him in the case. However, Thirumurugan Gandhi would not be released from prison as the city police detained him under three other criminal charges and under the Goondas Act.
Three days ago, Saidapet, Egmore, Royapettah and Nungambakkam police arrested Thirumurugan Gandhi, Tamilar Vidyal Katchi functionaries — Tyson, Jegan alias Ilamaran, Arunkumar and 13 others for staging a protest at the Marina beach in memory of Tamils killed in the war between Sri Lankan government and the erstwhile Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. They were detained at Puzhal prison recently.
The cops detained Thirumurugan Gandhi, Tyson, Jegan and Arunkumar under the Goondas Act. They had approached the Principal Sessions Court seeking bail. When the matter came up for hearing, the Principal Sessions Judge granted bail to 13 persons and rejected the bail plea of Thirumurugan Gandhi, Tyson, Jegan and Arunkumar.
