Thoothukudi violence: Mention CBI probe plea on Monday, say SC
New Delhi, May 25 : The Supreme Court may hear on Monday a plea for a court- monitored CBI probe into the killing of over a dozen protesters during an anti-Sterlite rally in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu.
As the petitioner, advocate G.S. Mani, mentioned his plea before a bench of Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice Indu Malhotra for urgent listing, the court said it will not entertain any mentioning of urgent matters on Friday and he may mention his plea on May 28.
In his PIL, the Supreme Court lawyer alleged a "pre-planned murder" by police with the help of high-level officials of police and civil administration.
He sought registration of an FIR under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code against the Thoothukudi Collector, Superintendent of Police and other police officials.
The petition said that announcement of Rs 10 lakh each as compensation to bereaved families was only meant to please the pubic and to escape a heinous crime of murdering innocent civilians.
He demanded Rs 50 lakh each to the kin of police firing victims, and Rs 25 lakh to the seriously injured.
The petitioner demanded that Internet services in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts be restored, since these were suspended after the incident.
Seeking the Central Bureau of Investigation probe, Mani pleaded that the Tamil Nadu Police would not be able to conduct free and fair investigation into the firing incident due to involvement of senior police officials.
On May 22, the Thoothukudi protests against Sterlite Copper smelting plant turned violent, following which 13 persons were killed in police firing and many others injured.
The construction of a proposed second smelting plant in Thoothukudi was stopped on the orders of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Malegaon blast trial: Court issues bailable warrant against Pragya Thakur
Mumbai, Nov 5: A special NIA court here on Tuesday issued a bailable warrant against BJP leader Pragya Singh Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, for failing to attend the proceedings.
Final arguments were going on and the presence of the accused is necessary, special judge A K Lahoti noted as he issued a bailable warrant of Rs 10,000 against Thakur.
The warrant is `returnable' by November 13 which means Thakur will have to appear before the court by then and get it cancelled.
The BJP leader's lawyer cited her health problems while requesting the special court for National Investigation Agency cases to grant her reasonable time to remain present.
But the court noted that Thakur, the accused number 1, had not attended the proceedings since June 4.
Her past applications for exemption on the grounds of illness and hospitalization were considered from time to time, the special judge said.
"Today, the application was filed, along with a xerox copy of the medical certificate, showing she is undergoing ayurvedic treatment, but the original certificate is not annexed," the court said while rejecting her plea.
Six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town in north Maharashtra about 200 km from Mumbai, on September 29, 2008.
Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit and five others are on trial for alleged involvement in the blast conspiracy under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The case was initially probed by the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), Maharashtra, before being transferred to the National Investigation Agency in 2011.
