Chennai, Aug 5 — The Madras High Court has relaxed the anticipatory bail conditions requiring former Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok Kumar to appear twice daily before the investigating officer in a case relating to the alleged attempt to lure a TVK legislator through horse-trading.
Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan passed the order on petitions filed by Senthil Balaji and Ashok Kumar seeking modification of the conditions imposed while granting anticipatory bail.
The case was registered by the Triplicane police following allegations that attempts had been made to induce TVK MLA Ilaiyaraja, representing the Uthangarai Assembly constituency in Krishnagiri district, as part of an alleged horse-trading bid.
As part of the investigation, the Triplicane police had issued summons to Senthil Balaji and his brother, directing them to appear for questioning.
Following the summons, the two approached the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail, apprehending arrest in connection with the case.
While granting them anticipatory bail, Justice Ilanthiraiyan had imposed a condition requiring both petitioners to appear before the investigating officer twice every day -- at 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. They had subsequently been complying with the direction by reporting to the police and signing the attendance register.
Senthil Balaji and Ashok Kumar later moved separate petitions before the High Court seeking relaxation of the reporting requirement.
When the petitions came up for hearing, counsel appearing for the brothers informed the court that a Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice had stayed the entire investigation being conducted by the Triplicane police in the case.
In view of the stay on the investigation, the petitioners argued that there was no justification for continuing the condition requiring them to report to the investigating officer twice daily. They therefore sought complete relaxation of the attendance requirement.
Accepting the submission, Justice Ilanthiraiyan relieved Senthil Balaji and Ashok Kumar of the condition requiring them to appear at the police station at 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. every day. The court, however, made it clear that the relaxation would not prevent the investigating agency from questioning the two if their presence becomes necessary.
The judge clarified that the police would be at liberty to issue summonses to Senthil Balaji and Ashok Kumar and require them to appear for inquiry whenever necessary, subject to the orders governing the investigation.