Madras HC grants pre-arrest bail to Vijaykanth

The Madras high court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam founder and Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly Vijaykanth, who apprehended arrest in connection with a case of alleged manhandling of a journalist at the airport.

Allowing his petition, Justice B Rajendran directed Vijaykant to furnish a personal bond of Rs one lakh and two sureties for the sum. He also has to appear before the police whenever required for investigation.

The case was registered on a complaint by the journalist -- that Vijaykanth and some other people abused him and pushed him down on October 27 -- when he posed some questions about four dissident DMDK Members of Legislative Assembly meeting Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

The Airport police have registered a case under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 294B (obscene acts and songs) and 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation) against the accused.

DMDK MLA Murugesan, a co-accused in the case, was arrested on Wednesday.