AIADMK councillors get anticipatory bail

Chennai, Jun 6 (UNI) A Sessions Court here today granted anticipatory bail to ten AIADMK councillors, who apprehended arrest in connection with a case against them for allegedly creating a ruckus during a council meet at Chennai Corporation on May 30.

Principal Sessions Judge V Periyakaruppiah granted anticipatory bail to floor leader V Sukumar Babu, party whip R Kesavan, chairman, standing committee for Town Planning, Vetrivel and seven others.

He imposed a condition that in the event of arrest or surrender before XIV Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) on or before June 21, they should be released on bail on executing a personal bond for Rs 5,000 each with two sureties each for a like sum, to the MM's satisfaction.

One of the sureties must be a close relative of the petitioner.

The petitioners should report before the Periyamet Police Station for interrogation as and when required, the judge added.

The petitioners were accused under Section 147 (rioting) and 353 (preventing public servant from discharging his duty) of IPC and Section 3 of Tamil Nadu Public Property Prevention of Damages Act.

The judge said P H Manoj Pandian, petitioners' counsel, said they belonged to the AIADMK and so were sent out from the council hall.

As they had been sent out, how could they have damaged mikes, he asked. They were innocent and the complaint did not mention that they damaged mikes. The case had been foisted based on political vendetta.

On perusal of the complaint, it could be seen that mikes fixed at the petitioners seats were said to have been damaged. According to City Public Prosecutor T V Ganesh, investigation was pending. The damage to mikes should be probed and compensation got, he said.

The judge said it could be determined whether the mikes had been damaged by someone else or the petitioners only at the time of trial. There could not be any fixing responsiblity against petitioners now.

Moreover, the petitioners were councilors and had permanent residence. If for any reason the petitioners were found guilty of damaging mikes at the time of final report or during the trial, it could be compensated by passing suitable orders.

Therefore the court was inclined to grant anticipatory bail.

UNI XR AA PA HT1853