Madras High Court stays trial against DMDK MLA K Dinakaran

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court today stayed for four weeks further proceedings pending before a local court against DMDK MLA K Dinakaran, who was charged with obstructing marshals of the assembly from discharging their duties in February.

Justice B Rajendran granted the interim stay on a revision petition filed by Dinakaran seeking to set aside an order of a Metropolitan Magistrate here, who dismissed his petition seeking discharge from the case.

During a discussion on Governor's speech in the assembly on February 19, heated arguments erupted between the ruling and opposition parties, following which assembly Speaker P Dhanapal had directed the marshals to evict some of the opposition party members.

Dinakran and other members raised slogans and sat within the assembly precincts when the marshals and police personnel tried to evict them.

Some of the marshals and police personnel were allegedly attacked by the MLAs in the corridor.

Later, a case was registered against him and others charging them with obstructing public servants from discharging their duties and also causing inflicting injuries to police personnel during the eviction process.

After completion of investigation, a charge sheet was filed before the VII Metropolitan Magistrate, George Town here.

Dinakaran's counsel Abudukumar contended that the Magistrate failed to note that the police had not lodged a complaint against him immediately after the occurrence of the incident.

The counsel submitted that the incident had taken place in the legislative assembly during its session and being a member, Dinakaran was discharging his duty in his official capacity and to prosecute him, sanction from the concerned officials was essential. But the Magistrate failed to take note of this, he submitted.