Scribe assault case: Madras HC quashes non-bailable warrant against Vijayakanth

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Wednesday quashed a non-bailable arrest warrant issued by a lower court against DMDK leader Vijayakanth and a former party MLA in connection with a criminal case against them for allegedly attempting to assault a journalist.

Justice M S Ramesh quashed the NBWs issued by the judicial magistrate in Alandur on December 5.

Following a complaint from the journalist alleging that he was assaulted by Vijayakanth and then DMDK MLA Murugesan at the airport in October 2012, the Meenambakkam police registered a case.

The magistrate court commenced the trial and subsequently granted bail to the duo based on a direction from the Madras High Court.

Vijayakanth did not appear before the lower court when the case was taken up last month.

The court directed him to be present during the next hearing and then adjourned the case to December 5.

But when the case came up yesterday, both Vijayakanth and the former MLA did not appear with their counsel submitting that they were not well.

Counsel for Vijayakanth submitted that he had gone to Singapore for a medical check-up.

A petition under Section 317 CrPC seeking to dispense with their presence was filed.

Declining to accept the submission, the magistrate issued the warrant and adjourned the case to February 13 for further hearing.