The detention of former DMK minister Veerapandi S Arumugham under the Goondas Act was challenged by his wife Leela in the Madras HC on Tuesday.
A division bench comprising Justices K N Basha and P Devadass, before which the habeas corpus writ petition came up for hearing, ordered notice returnable in four weeks. By an order dated June 18 this year, the Salem City Police Commissioner had detained Arumugham under the Goondas Act.
The petitioner’s counsel A Saravanan contended that the alleged activities of Arumugham would not fall under the definition of a “slum grabber” under Sec. 2(h) of the Goondas Act, as he had not committed any act prejudicial to the maintenance of the public order. The detention order had been passed without application of mind, Saravanan contended.