Madurai, Feb 11 (PTI) Madras High Court Bench here has stayed proceedings in a criminal case filed against Tamil comedian N Vadivel and a DMK candidate in assembly elections last year in connection with alleged violation of election code. Passing orders on the petitions filed by Vadivel, a star campaigner for the DMK in the April 13 polls, and K Vijayan, Justice T. Sudanthiram also dispensed with their appearance before the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate at Natham in Dindigul district. The Judge ordered notice to the police and a Village Administrative Officer who was the complainant in the case. According to the petitioners, the case was originally registered under Sections 143 (punishment for unlawful assembly) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code when they were campaigning in Natham on April 6 last year. They were accused of using loud speakers and causing disturbance to the public and violating the election code. However, after investigation, the police filed a chargesheet against the duo under Sections 143 and 290 (punishment for public nuisance) of the IPC. Claiming that none of the prosecution witnesses had accused the petitioners of causing annoyance, the petitioners alleged the case was politically motivated.
