Chennai, Mar 06: A special court trying Pota cases has allowed MDMK General Secretary Vaiko to undertake electioneering for the May 10 Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu.
On a petition filed by Vaiko, special judge l Rajendran, who had earlier granted bail, dispensed with the MDMK leader`s presence during the trial of the case. Stating that he had to campaign statewide, Vaiko sought to dispense with his personal appearance during the day-to-day trial proceedings under Section 205 of the
Criminal Procedure Code.
Rajendran, in his order, directed that Vaiko be represented by his counsel and after the completion of campaign, the MDMK leader should appear for trial. As Vaiko was arguing his case as party-in-person, the judge made it clear that the MDMK leader should not claim that his absence
had prejudiced the conduct of the trial.
Vaiko, a star campaigner for the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance, is scheduled to undertake a 56-day electioneering beginning on
March 10.
Bureau Report
