The Madras High court today rejected a plea filed by expelled AIADMK MP L Sasikala Pushpa, her husband and son that police should not arrest them till the court decides on their anticipatory bail petition in connection
with "ransacking" of the house of a lawyer representing two women domestic aides in a sexual harassment case against her and the family.
In her complaint, the woman advocate had sought action against a gang which had "ransacked" her house at Tirunelveli during her absence on September 11. She had also sought protection for herself and her clients.
Police had arrested three supporters of Pushpa -- Harinadar, Ramalingam and Chitrakumar in connection with the attack on the house.
Pushpa, her husband Lingeswara Tilagan and Praddeepraja had earlier applied for anticipatory bail at the court's Madurai bench.
During the hearing today, they sought a direction to police not to arrest them till the court decides on the anticipatory bail plea.
They alleged that police was implicating them in the attack based on confession of three persons who had been arrested already. They submitted that they were not connected with the case in any way and were innocent,and should be granted anticipatory bail.
Harinadar, Ramalingam and Chitrakumar also sought bail.
The Additional Advocate General claimed that the attack had taken place at the instigation of one rocket raja.
The documents submitted by the petitioners had not been given to the government side, he said, adding, government wanted to file all the documents relating to the case and the court should grant some more time and adjourn the hearing.
However, counsel for the petitioners submitted that they had given all the documents relating to the case 15 days ago.Even as the bail application was pending one person was detained under Goondas act, the counsel said.
The government was deliberately delaying hearing of the case, the counsel said, submitting proof of documents being handed over to the government side.
The court said the case had been adjourned thrice already.There was proof of petitioners submitting documents to the government side.However, the government was seeking more time, the court said and adjourned the case to November 9, declining to stay the arrest of Pushpa,her husband and son till that date.
However, the court said if the government sought time onNovember 9, he would consider staying the arrest of the petitioners.
While the high court had earlier rejected Pushpa's bail plea, the Supreme Court gave her protection from arrest and on September 26, directed her to join the police investigation.
A case has recently been registered against Pushpa and some of her family members for alleged sexual harassment of their maids in 2001.
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