Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Vetrikondan freed on bail, rearrested

By Our Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE Sept. 29. Amid high drama, the DMK podium speaker, R. Vetrikondan, was arrested within hours of his being released on bail, from the Cuddalore central prison in a case of making an objectionable speech.

The Vandavasi police, who had come here, arrested him on similar charges on the prison campus itself.

At about 11.35 a.m., Adi Shankar, MP, along with the Villupuram municipal chairman, S.S. Panneerselvam, came to the prison armed with the bail order, issued by a magistrate, for the release of Mr. Vetrikondan, who was booked under Section 294 of the IPC for having delivered an objectionable speech at the recent Villupuram DMK conference.

Jail authorities let him out by 1.30 p.m. But the Old Town Police Station inspector, Jawaharlal, came there with a team, stating the Vandavasi police were on their way to re-arrest Mr. Vetrikondan and therefore he should accompany him to the station.

However, Mr. Adi Shankar, Mr. Panneerselvam, L. Pugazhendi, MLA, and some other partymen protested the move to re-arrest Mr. Vetrikondan without any valid document. This resulted in arguments.

Meanwhile, Mr. Vetrikondan developed giddiness and squatted on the floor, holding his head with the hands, on the prison premises. The partymen told the police that as Mr. Vetrikondan had recently undergone an open heart surgery he should not be exposed to harsh sunlight and must be allowed to get into an airconditioned van of the MP.

The repeated demands by the partymen that the police produce at least a written statement that Mr. Vetrikondan was being re-arrested were not conceded. But, Mr. Vetrikondan was allowed to get into the van, with Mr. Jawaharlal occupying the driver's seat.

On arrival of the Vandavasi police, led by the DSP, Dakshinamoorthy, at about 2.45 p.m., the local police withdrew from the scene. And, with a police jeep going before it, the van started its journey to Vandavasi. The Vandavasi police have booked a case against Mr. Vetrikondan under Sections 294 (b) and 153 (using filthy language to the annoyance of the public).

The MP told The Hindu that the jail authorities had ``inordinately delayed'' releasing Mr. Vetrikondan, and that he was ``illegally detained'' on the prison campus, without any consideration for his health and age. The party would lodge a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission.

Mr. Pugazhendi and Mr. Panneerselvam said they were planning to go to Vandavasi to obtain bail but the police ``blocked their way, parking vans.''

Mr. Vetrikondan said had the Villupuram police told him he himself would have gone to the police station, thus sparing the bother of a wee hour arrest on Sunday. At least 20 cases had been ``foisted'' on him, and he would face them legally, he said.

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