(rpting, adding addl matter in para one)

Ranchi, Dec 19 (UNI) Jharkhand High Court today granted bail to suspended Inspector General P S Natrajan, charged with raping a tibal woman, after making him file two bail bonds of Rs 50,000 each.

Justice R K Merathia passed the order while hearing the regular bail petition filed by Natrajan. The court directed Natrajan to cooperate with the court during trial.

The suspended Police officer was in jail from November 6 after his surrender-cum-bail petition was rejected by Ranchi's Additional Judicial Commissioner Anil Kumar Choudhary.

Natrajan's counsel Anil Kumar Sinha pleaded before the court that case does not fall under Scheduled Caste and Tribe Atrocities Act as the victim did not submit any ST/SC certificate.

Natrajan was alleged to have sexually molested a tribal woman, by a few television channels, following which he was suspended from his post and a case was registered against him.

UNI AM JYM VD KN1510