Madras High Court denies advance bail for Sasikala Puspha

Madurai: Rejecting the anticipatory bail petition moved by the expelled AIADMK MP Sasikala Puspha in a criminal case filed against her a woman advocate, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court Justice S Vaidyanathan on Friday observed, "The custodial interrogation is must in this case."

Sasikala Puspha's involvement in the attack on advocate Suganthi's house, who appeared for two domestic servants in sexual harassment cases filed by them against the MP and her family members, was evident from the confession statement of the main accused Hari Nadar and others, the court said.

“In his statement, Hair Nadar who has deposed that he along with Rocket Raj met Sasikala Puspha at Delhi and received an advance amount of Rs 5 lakh on the negotiated amount of Rs 50 lakhs in order to execute the plot narrated by her to overcome the problems...,".

His version has also been corroborated by the confession statement of co-accused Ramalaingam and Sathya Chithirai Kumar, said the judge adding that the accused Hari Nadar also had telephone conversation prior to the incident on his mobile phone with the MP.

The court also said that except Sasikala Puspha none of the accused had any grudge against advocate Suganthi "There is no other conclusion than the one that the purported attack was only on account of instigation of Sasikala Puspha can be arrived at," said Justice Vaidyanathan.

“The contention that Sasikala Pushpa has become a victim in the political arena and her enemies have made use of her to gain advantage through their horse trading agreement, cannot be looked into at this stage in a petition for anticipatory bail and it is a matter for trial. Moreover, her status as an MP should not be used as a shield to cover up any crime or licence to perpetrate it and morale in public justice should not be shaken,” said the court.

However, the court granted anticipatory bail to her husband T Lingeshwara Thilagan and her son Pradeep Raja and directed her to appear before Judicial Magistrate, Nanguneri, Tirunelveli district.