Madurai: A local court has refused permission to the Q-branch police to search the residential premises of MDMK leader Vaiko and other party functionaries in connection with the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) case registered against them.

The police, who had registered cases against Vaiko and eight others who were in the prison for allegedly making pro-LTTE remarks, pleaded the Thirumangalam Judicial Magistrate Venkatachalapathy to grant them permission to carry out the searches.

Meanwhile, the Q-branch police on July 27 said it would be seeking an appeal at the POTA court at Poonamallee near Chennai for allowing them to carry out the searches.

PTI