Chennai: A designated Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court today (Apr 30, 2004) turned down a petition by Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko to adjourn proceedings in the POTA case against him till such time the State Government writes to the public prosecutor (PP) to withdraw the case against him.

Designated POTA Judge L Rajendran, accepting the PP's argument that there was no order restraining the prosecution or court from continuing with the trial, dismissed the petition.

A division bench of the High Court had yesterday (Apr 29, 2004) held that the central POTA review committee's ruling, that the case against Vaiko did not constitute an offence under POTA, was binding on the Tamil Nadu Government.

The Bench had held that the PRC's order was binding on the State Government only upto the point of addressing a letter to the PP to consider whether it was a fit case to file an application for withdrawal under section 321 Cr.PC.