HC grants anticipatory bail to Jothi

Chennai, Dec 3 (UNI) The Madras High Court today granted anticipatory bail to AIADMK legal advisor N Jothi, who apprehended arrest in connection with a case registered against him by the CB-CID police.

Mr Justice T Sudanthiram granted the bail on the condition that Mr Jothi should deposit Rs 10,27,417, the amount calculated by the prosecution as causing a loss to the exchequer for appearing before the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) though he was not authorised to do so.

The judge directed the petitioner to deposit the amount in the Principal Sessions Court within four weeks.

The judge also directed Jothi to submit a surety of Rs 25,000 and appear before the CB-CID police as and when required.

The CB-CID police had registered a case against Rajya Sabha member N Jothi on November 28, in connection with the alleged misuse of government money by him for attending the proceedings before the CWDT.

The CB-CID registered a First Information Report (FIR)against Jothi following a complaint by a city-based lawyer Amarnath Rao.

In his complaint Mr Rao said Jothi, who was not authorised by the government to appear before the Tribunal, had availed funds from the Public Works Department (PWD) for flying to Delhi and attended the proceedings by misusing the government money during the previous AIADMK regime.

Mr Jothi, who apprehended arrest had petitioned the High Court, seeking antipatory bail.

UNI