Chennai: Madras high court has granted time until March 13 for 12 accused, including prime accused Aswathaman, to surrender in connection with the murder of former state Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader K Armstrong. The court, on Feb 27, had cancelled their bail and directed them to surrender on or before March 6.Subsequent to the March 6 order, the 12 accused moved applications in the court seeking four weeks of additional time to surrender.They submitted that they intended to challenge the high court’s order cancelling their bail before the Supreme Court. Therefore, they requested four weeks to engage a lawyer and provide necessary instructions for filing the appeal. Allowing the applications, Justice C Kumarappan granted time until March 13 for the accused to surrender. The court also directed the accused to appear before the trial court every morning and sign until March 13.On Feb 27, the court cancelled the bail granted to the 12 accused on two petitions moved by Armstrong’s wife, Porkodi, and the Tamil Nadu govt seeking to cancel the bail. According to Porkodi, the sessions court granted bail to the accused solely on the grounds that the probe was transferred from TN police to the CBI. Now, since the SC stayed the CBI probe, she wanted the court to cancel the bail.Armstrong was hacked to death near his residence in 2024. Police filed charges against 29 individuals, including Nagendran (now deceased) and his son, Aswathaman. Of them, 27 were arrested, while two are still absconding.
