The Madras High Court today issued notice to the state government on petitions filed by five accused in the Kodanad Estate murder and dacoity case, challenging their detention under goondas act.
A division bench, comprising Justice A. Selvam and Justice Pon. Kalaiyarasan, after issuing notice, directed the Additional Public Prosecutor to file the government's counter affidavit by October 26.
The Nilgiris district collector had passed the detention orders on July 17 following which their families moved the court.
The five-- Udayan, Satheesan, Tippu, Jamshed Ali and Manoj-- were arrested on different dates in May and were under judicial custody when the detention orders were issued.
Police have named seven persons as accused in the murder and break-in at the estate. The prime suspect Kanagaraj, a former driver of Jayalalithaa, had died in a road accident in Salem in April.
According to police, Kanakaraj had plotted the crime with other accused.
The murder of a security guard and break-in at the Kodanadu estate bungalow belonging to former chief minister Jayalalithaa had occurred on April 24.
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