Actor, family members granted bail in dowry case

Chennai, May 30 (UNI) A sessions court today granted interim anticipatory bail to popular film star T Prasanth and three of his family members who apprehended arrest in connection with a complaint from the actor's wife, Grahalakshmi, alleging dowry harassment.

Principal Sessions Judge V Periya Karuppaiah granted the interim anticipatory bail for three months to Prasanth, his father R Thiyagarajan, mother Shanthi Thiyagarajan and sister Preethi on condition they execute a bond for Rs 5,000 each with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of VI Metropolitan Magistrate, Chennai.

In his order, the judge said both Prasanth and Grahalakshmi were present at the request of their counsel. The case was taken up in his chamber and he heard about the possibilities of settlement between them.

The couple was given audience in the presence of the respective counsels. Both of them agreed to settle their disputes during the mediation proceedings before the Mediation Centre of the Family Court here on June 18.

Both of them genuinely expressed their intention to settle their disputes and reunite.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case that the dispute between the couple was likely to be settled before the Mediation Centre, this court was inclined to grant anticipatory bail to all the petitioners for a period of three months, he said.

Orginally, Prasanth filed a petition before the Family Court seeking restitution of conjugal rights. Though Grahalakshmi initially filed a petition seeking Rs one lakh per month as maintenance charges, subsequently, she filed an affidavit expressing her desire to reunite with her husband along with their one-year-old son.

The conciliation proceedings were held in the family court and the matter posted to June 18 for mediation.

In the meantime, Grahalakshmi lodged a complaint with the commissioner of police on May seven alleging dowry harassment.

Hence, Prasanth and his family members filed the present anticipatory bail application.

UNI