VCK MLA, five other functionaries acquitted in 2018 protest cases

S.S. Balaji. File
| Photo Credit: M. Karunakaran

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) MLA S.S. Balaji and five other party functionaries were on Thursday (February 20, 2025) acquitted by a special court in two criminal cases registered against them for staging a protest in Triplicane without permission in 2018.

According to the prosecution, on March 3, 2018, Mr. Balaji, then VCK deputy general secretary, Chelladurai, district secretary, and several others participated in a protest staged by the party near Anna Statue on Anna Salai to condemn the frequent attacks on Dalits and demand adequate compensation to the victims as per the orders of the Supreme Court.

Alleging that they conducted the protest without permission, the Triplicane police registered two criminal cases, in which Balaji, Chelladurai, and four others were cited in the FIRs for offences including unlawful assembly, rioting, and preventing public servants from discharging their duties.

An additional special court for exclusive trial of cases against MLAs and MPs heard the cases, and special judge G. Jayavel on Thursday pronounced the judgment acquitting them after holding that the charges were not proven by the prosecution.