Plea dismissed against bail to anti-Sterlite protesters

Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed Tamil Nadu Government's plea challenging a lower court's order granting bail to 65 people arrested for their alleged role in the anti-Sterlite protest on May 22 in Thoothukudi.

Stating that the police have failed to provide proof against the 65 people, Judge G R Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court said there was no prima facie case against the people who were booked under criminal charges.

The 65 people were arrested immediately after the anti-Sterlite protests on May 22 turned violent, which resulted in the killing of 13 people in police firing. However, a local court granted them bail, which was challenged by the state government.

The arrested persons were booked under Sections 147 (Punishment for rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint) and 435 (Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992.