The Madras High Court today granted interim stay on all further proceedings against former Union Health Minister and PMK youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss in a lower court in a case relating to a speech he allegedly made in 2013 "with an intention to create riot and disharmony."
Justice R Subbaiah, before whom the petition filed by Ramadoss came up today, admitted it and dispensed with the personal appearance of the PMK leader before the Judicial Magistrate, Ulundurpet in Villupuram district and granted an interim stay on all further proceedings in the case.
Ramadoss submitted that on the basis of a complaint by police on May ,5 2013 a case was registered against him. The charge was that during a press meet he addressed on May 1, he had spoken with an intent to create riot and disharmony and to promote enmities between two classes.
Anbumani's father, PMK founder leader Dr Ramadoss, had been arrested on April 30, 2013 in connection with an agitation conducted by him at Villupuram Railway Station and later released. Police had charged that the speech the PMK youth wing leader gave during the May 1 press meet one of instigating violence.
In the above case, a charge sheet has already been filed before the Ulundurpet Judicial Magistrate. Hence, Anbumani filed the present petition seeking to quash the proceedings.
Anbumani contended that the entire final report and its contents do not constitute any offence as alleged by the prosecution. It was an abuse of the process of law and the case was filed with malafide intention to satisfy ruling AIADMK leaders, he alleged
He further submitted that there is no ingredient to initiate criminal proceedings against him and no substantial material in the complaint to prosecute him under criminal law.
Hence he prayed for interim stay on all the proceedings.
Justice Subbaiah, who granted the interim stay, issued a notice to police to file their counter within four weeks.
