Leelavathi, the unfortunate victim in this case, has been done away with, in a brutal attack allegedly made by the petitioners and another in a broad-day light in a main bazar at Villapuram, Madurai, at about 8.30 a.m. on 23-4-1997, probably for having elected as a Lady Councillor for Ward No. 59, in the Corporation Election at Madurai in Oct. 1996

2. The petitioners herein are seeking grant of bail from this Court. There are totally six accused in this case. The petitioners are A-2, A-1, A-3 to A-5 respectively. They are concerned with Cr. No. 334 of 1997 of Keerathurai Police Station, for the offences under Sections 147, 148, 341, 324 and 302, I.P.C

3. The facts are these :-

(i) The first informant in this case Mr. V. K. Kuppusamy, is the husband of the victim Leelavathi. He is working as Tinker in eversilver polishing shed. Both husband and wife were residing along with their three daughters in Nadar compound, Villapuram main road, Madurai. The victim Leelavathi was a full time party worker and District Council Member of CPI (M) party

(ii) In Oct. 1996, in the Corporation election conducted at Madurai Corporation, she contested as a candidate affiliated to CPM., for the