Royapuram Mano enlarged on bail

Chennai, Apr 21 (UNI) Madras High Court today granted bail to Congress Councilor Royapuram Mano, arrested in connection with the alleged assault on supporters of a rival faction headed by A Chellakumar at Satyamurthy Bhavan.

Mr Justice K N Basha, granting bail to Mano, who is contesting from R K Nagar Constituency on a petition filed by Mano, said the order would become effective from April 24.

The judge granted bail to Mano on condition that he should report before Anna Salai Police Station twice a day for a week. He should execute a bond for Rs 20,000 with two sureties each for a like sum and should not give any public speech regarding this case. He should extend full cooperation to the investigating officer, he added.

Petitioner's counsel said police took custody of Mano for two days, which expired today. All victims were discharged from hospital and statements recorded. The petitioner was contesting from R K Nagar constituency and needed to come out on bail for canvassing.

The public prosecutor said the injured persons did not discharge themselves from hospital on their own but were compelled to leave the hospital at the petitioner's instance. Mano was under police custody. Therefore, at this stage if he was enlarged on bail it would amount to interfering with the course of investigation. There was reasonable apprehension that the petitioner would tamper with witnesses.

The judge said considering all the victims were discharged from hospital, their statements recorded and police custody was going to expire at 1730 hrs today, Mano was entitled to be enlarged on bail.

UNI XR AA RL BST2005