No coercive action against expelled AIADMK MP till Aug 22: HC

The court also asks petitioners to approach the appropriate court in Tamil Nadu for relief by then

The High Court of Delhi on Thursday asked the Tamil Nadu government not to take any coercive action till August 22 against expelled All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Pushpa, her husband and their son facing a case of harassment of domestic servants.

Justice Mukta Gupta also asked the petitioners to approach the appropriate court in Tamil Nadu for relief by then.

"Police will take no coercive steps till August 22," the court said adding, "they can move there (Tamil Nadu) without any prejudice to their rights available under the law."

The court, however, refrained from passing any order staying the proceedings in the case.

The high court had yesterday restrained the Tamil Nadu government from taking any coercive action till today against Sasikala, her husband Lingeswara Thilakan and son Pradeep Raja, while hearing their anticipatory bail pleas.

The state government counsel had told the court that an FIR was lodged against them in Pudukkottai district under various sections of IPC and Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.

During the hearing yesterday, senior advocate Sudhir Nandrajog, who appeared for the petitioners, had told the court that his clients were at present staying in Delhi and that they should be given some protection to approach the appropriate court in Tamil Nadu.

Senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra, appearing for Delhi Police, had said another bench of the high court had on August 5 asked the police to provide security to Sasikala on her plea seeking adequate protection for her and her family on the ground that she was receiving threats after being allegedly slapped by a party leader.

The domestic servants, who reportedly worked at Pushpa's house in Tamil Nadu, had filed a police complaint alleging that they were tortured by them.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had directed the police to escort Sasikala to Parliament so she can discharge her duty safely.

It had also issued notice to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Delhi Police seeking their response on Pushpa's plea in which she has sought security for her while attending Rajya Sabha session.