Madras High Court grants pre-arrest bail to BJP workers who allegedly hurled slippers at Minister's car
A group of around 30 people had allegedly waylaid Finance Minister's car when he was returning after paying homage to a slain Indian army soldier who was killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.
The Madras High Court recently granted anticipatory bail to 3 Bhartiya Janta Party workers who allegedly held up the car of Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan in Madurai and hurled slippers at it when the minister was returning after paying homage to a slain Indian army soldier.
The bench of Justice G. Ilangovan granted relief to the bail applicants after it accepted their heartfelt regret expressed by them. "When the petitioners come forward with heartful regret, that must be accepted by this court by giving opportunity to correct themselves. No purpose is going to be served by arresting the petitioners and getting regular bail," the bench noted.
The prosecution case was that a soldier belonging to T Pudupatti village in the Madurai district was among the army personnel killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri. His body was brought to Madurai Airport and the State Honour was arranged on August 13, 2022.
When Palanivel Thiaga Rajan along with District Collector and other Government Officials went to the Airport premises to pay tributes to the departed soldier, the District President of BJP along with 30 others (including the petitioners) opposed the same and demanded first right to pay homage.
The protestors were removed by the State officials while being assured that they will also get a chance later as the first Honour must be given only by the Government as per the protocol.
However, when the Minister was returning in his car, the same was waylaid by the accused persons who abused the minister with filthy language, tried to cause damage to the car glass, and criminally intimidated him.
A case was registered for the offences punishable under sections 147, 294(b), 341, 353, 355, 506(2) IPC and Section 2 of Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act, 1971, wherein the present applicants sought pre-arrest bail.
While pleading for anticipatory bail, the accused persons placed a letter of regret before the court expressing their heartfelt regret.
Justice Ilangovan accepted the same and granted the relief while observing, "what is important is human values, much above the law, above the politics, above the religion etc. It must be maintained by the people like the petitioners, who belong to political party and that too who are political functionaries. This court is of the hope that they will maintain it at any costs.”
Case title - Gokul Ajith and others v. The State