Chennai, Oct. 16 :     An anti-establishment mood building up among Dalits in the wake of judicial setbacks and restrictions imposed by law enforcers is threatening to alienate the group from the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam (DMK), a self-proclaimed crusader for social justice. Three events in close succession have stoked the Dalit embers and directed their anger towards the M. Karunanidhi regime, though two of them have taken place in the courtroom. First, human rights activist T.S.S. Mani, who was in charge of the production of a documentary on the plight of Dalits, has been denied bail again by a magistrate court. Second, a division bench of Madras High Court has dismissed a public interest petition seeking a CBI probe into the the police action during a rally by the Manjolai tea estate workers in Tirunelveli on July 23, resulting in the death of 17 persons. Dalits alleged that the police had used brute force to break up the rally organised by the Pudhiya Thamizhakam, Tamil Maanila Congress and Left parties and pushed the tea workers into the Tamirabarani river. Third, the state government decision banned the entry of around 20 Dalit leaders into Cuddalore district, fearing ?breach of peace?. The Chidambaram Lok Sabha constituency, where the Dalit Panthers of India leader Thirumavalavan was a candidate and which saw serious incidents of violence on the polling day, lies in this district. Thirumavalavan has not been able to visit the affected areas since. The DMK government?s alienation from the Dalits seemed complete as human rights activists lashed out at the injustice meted out to Dalits at a demonstration organised here today by Citizens for Freedom of Expression. Ironically, Mani?s bail was denied even as the high court granted anticipatory bail to R.R. Srinivasan, director of the documentary. Mani had been picked up, denied access to the media and lawyers and remanded to 15 days? judicial custody after the screening of a documentary on the incidents in Tirunelveli on July 23. His bail plea was moved on Friday before the magistrate who had remanded him a couple of days ago. His counsel, P.V. Bhaktavatsalam, argued that the charge of causing disaffection among different communities does not arise since the documentary only highlights police high-handedness and that the Supreme Court had earlier held that demonstrations by aggrieved groups against the state could not be said to be intended at inciting people. He pointed out that since the documentary was not a commercial venture and was meant for a select audience, those behind the venture could not be said to have violated any provision of the Cinematographic Act. He also told the magistrate that earlier in the day, the high court had granted anticipatory bail to the documentary director. However, the magistrate refused to accept any of his arguments or take cognisance of the high court ruling. He dismissed the bail application, saying: ?Produce the order before me.? A two-member bench of the high court dismissed the petition filed by Pudhiya Thamizhakam leader Krishnasamy, demanding a CBI probe into the Tirunelveli incidents and a fresh post-mortem of the bodies of those who were drowned. An inquiry commission, headed by retired Supreme Court judge S. Mohan, has been appointed. But civil rights activists said they fear a ?whitewash?. The Cuddalore collector banned for two months the entry of the leaders of 20 organisations. Thirumavalavan and others have reacted furiously, saying that the ban only betrayed the anti-Dalit bias of the government. ?Can?t we meet our people, offer some solace and arrange relief for the victims of the violence unleashed on them on September 5?? a Dalit leader wondered. But the Dalits have decided not to defy the diktat in order not to cause any law and order problem.