May 17 Movement coordinator Thirumurugan Gandhi, who was arrested in as many as 22 cases, finally secured bail in all cases and was on Tuesday released from the Vellore prison.
He walked out of prison after nearly 50 days and was received by his followers.
Addressing journalists, he said freedom of speech was being denied in Tamil Nadu. “This government is making decisions that violate the constitutional provisions. They are not arresting or slapping cases against those belonging to right wing outfits like RSS and BJP that are inciting violence in the State. Instead, they are stifling the voice of those who are raising the problems of people,” he alleged.
Sedition charge
In August, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Chennai police arrested Mr. Gandhi at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on charges of sedition. He was returning to the country after attending a United Nations Human Rights Council meeting, where he flagged the Thoothukudi firing issue. He has been actively campaigning against the Chennai-Salem green corridor project.
A total of 22 cases were filed against him for conducting agitations, processions and candlelight vigil protests on the Marina beach in violation of prohibitory orders.