The Madurai bench of Madras high court on Friday quashed the detention of Essor Gopi, an associate of union minister M K Alagiri, under the Goondas Act.

The division bench, comprising justices M Jaichandren and S Nagamuthu said there was delay on the part of the authorities concerned to consider Gopi's representation and dispose it within the stipulated period.

The judges directed the detenu to be set at liberty immediately unless he is required in connection with any other case or cause.

Essor Gobi and his brother were allegedly involved in a murder case.

He had surrendered before the court recently and was subsequently detained under the Goondas Act by the district collector on August 31 and lodged in Tiruchirappali central prison.

His wife Subbulakshmi challenged the detention order.

Essor Gobi was arraigned as main accused in the murder of an autorickshaw driver on April 16,2009. A case was registered against him on information given by the village administrative officer at Avaniapuram.

The prosecution's case was that Gopi and his brother had threatened a person who had given his house to put up an election booth in 2009 and ordered him to vacate it. But the man refused to do so, following which Gopi's brother and 14 others conspired to kill him. He was taken to Gopi's house and murdered there, they said.

The man's body was taken to another spot and a car driven over him to make it look like an accident, they said.