Chennai: The Madras High Court today (Feb 9, 2004) refused to stay a POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) court's grant of conditional bail to Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko, accused of making pro-LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) speech at a public meeting.

A Division Bench of the court, however, admitted a petition filed by Tamil Nadu Government challenging the POTA court order granting bail to Vaiko.

Admitting the petition, a Division Bench comprising Justice V S Sirpurkar and Justice S M Ibrahim Khallifulla issued notice to Vaiko and posted the petition alongwith the one filed by Vaiko earlier seeking modifications in the conditions laid down by the trial court while granting bail to him.