Vellore, Jan 14: Eight MDMK partymen, who were arrested under Pota in July 2002, were released from the central prison today, following granting of conditional bail by the Madras High Court. They were arrested along with their party chief Vaiko under the anti-terrorism act for allegedly making objectionable speeches at a public meeting at Thirumangalam in Madurai district on June 30, 2002.
Those released today were P Ganesan, K Alagusundaram, A Ganesamurthy, G Nagarajan, P S Manian, Veera Illavarasan, M Bhoominathan and Pulavar Sivanthiappan.
Granting the bail to them on January 12, the Madras High Court had directed the designated court, trying the cases under the anti-terrorist law, to give its verdict in the case before June 30.
The court had directed each of them to furnish personal bonds for Rs 50,000 with two sureties of like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court.
Restraining them from referring to any terrorist outfits, particularly the banned LTTE, at any public meeting addressed by them, the court directed them not to give any interview to any media or issue press statements.
The bail application of Vaiko, who had yesterday moved a designated court, would come up for hearing on January 21.
Bureau Report