Coimbatore: A day after five Maoists were nabbed in Coimbatore in a significant catch, a special court refused to grant custody to the Tamil Nadu police. The Court remanded them to judicial custody for a month — till 6 June — as they have been charged under Section 20 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for being part of a terrorist gang. They have also been charged with sedition and criminal conspiracy under 124 (A) and 120 (b) of the Indian Penal Code.

In a joint operation by Andhra and Tamil Nadu police, the five Maoists — Roopesh alias Praveen alias Jogi, his wife P.A. Shyna and their accomplices Anoop, Kannan and Easwaran — were nabbed from a bakery in Karumathampatty on Monday.

On Tuesday evening, the five were produced before the Mahila Court judge MP Subrmanainan, who holds additional charge of the special court in Coimbatore. When the Tamil Nadu police filed a petition seeking their custody, the judge dismissed the plea.

Significantly, the Judge observed that the Tamil Nadu government has not constituted a special court to handle cases under the National Investigation Agency Act. The Judge said the court did not have the jurisdiction to decide on the issue.

During the hearing, Ms Shyna told the judge there were no women cops while she was arrested. As she sought medical assistance for her stomach pain, the judge ordered jail authorities to provide her the requisite treatment.

The PUCL state secretary S. Balamurugan said that the five persons had told the judge that the Andhra police had arrested them and tried to take them elsewhere. But after they protested, they were produced in court. However, the judge said that he will look into their other concerns during the hearing.