The Madras High Court today took a stern view of the detention of an anti-Sterlite protester under the National Security Act when he was given conditional bail and asked the Tuticorin collector to be present in court tomorrow.
A division bench of justices C T Selvam and AM Basheer Ahamed asked whether "this is democratic Tamil Nadu or a police raj state".
The bench directed the Tuticorin collector to be present tomorrow and explain as to how the NSA could be slapped on Raghavan, a functionary of 'Makkal Athigaram' under the NSA.
The court took note of a habeas corpus petition filed by Raghavan's wife.
Makkal Athigaram, a Left-wing outfit, was suspected to be behind the anti-Sterlite agitation in May, following which 92 cases were filed against Raghavan.
The court had granted him conditional bail on July 24.
As many as 242 cases had been filed in connection with the agitation in May that turned violent and led to police firing which claimed 13 lives.
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