CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has quashed the detention of Puratchi Thamizhagam Katchi leader Airport Moorthy under the Goondas Act.
Airport Moorthy, who heads the Puratchi Thamizhagam party, had been posting comments on social media about Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi president and Chidambaram MP Thol Thirumavalavan.
In this backdrop, VCK cadres allegedly attacked him on August 6 near the entrance of the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police office at Mylapore, following which he is stated to have retaliated.
Complaints were subsequently lodged by both sides. Based on a complaint from VCK cadres, the Marina Police registered a case against Airport Moorthy and arrested him on September 7. He was subsequently detained under the Goondas Act.
Challenging the detention, his wife Jayakumari filed a habeas corpus petition before the High Court.
When the plea came up for hearing before a Division Bench comprising Justices P Velmurugan and M Jothiraman, the counsel for the petitioner contended that the detention order had been passed mechanically without proper application of mind.
Allowing the petition, the Bench set aside the detention order issued against Airport Moorthy under the Goondas Act.