Advance bail granted to women

MADURAI

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has granted anticipatory bail to women who protested during the election to a cooperative society in Kooduthalai in Tiruneveli district recently.

Justice R. Tharani, hearing the plea of the petitioners from Kooduthalai, granted bail to the women, who participated in Kooduthalai Fishermen and Women Cooperative Society poll. The petitioners moved the High Court seeking anticipatory bail after they were accused of preventing the returning officer from carrying out his duty.

The prosecution claimed that the villagers had agitated during the election to the cooperative society and tore the sheets displaying the results. They claimed that the returning officer was not allowed to carry out his duty.

However, the villagers, in their petition, said the returning officer tampered with the votes. Valid votes were rendered invalid in order to favour the previous office-bearers, they claimed. A complaint had been forwarded to the Collector in this regard, they added.