DMK MLA behind bars in firing incident gets conditional bail

The Madras High Court on Thursday granted conditional bail to DMK MLA L Idhayavarman and 11 others in a case booked for using illegal firearms to settle a land dispute.

Justice N Sathish Kumar granted the relief after directing them to execute a bond of Rs 10,000 each with two sureties each. The MLA was also directed to pay Rs 3 lakh to the Cancer Institute in Adyar and sign before Vellore Town Police station daily.

The MLA had submitted that his father Lakshmipathi had only fired in the air using his licensed pistol to frighten assailants who had attempted to hack him to death. He claimed that neither he nor his brother Nirmal was present at the scene during the incident and that they were apprised of it much later. On the other hand, State Public Prosecutor A Natarajan submitted that the MLA was present at the scene and had used a pistol and rifle which failed to have valid licences.

He also contended that certain recoveries have been made indicating that illegal guns were being made in the MLA’s farm. Moreover, the MLA was not cooperating with the investigation and hence should not be granted bail, the PP argued.

However, Justice Suresh Kumar, on perusing the case diary related to the FIR against DMK MLA Idhayavarman for using illegal firearms, granted conditional bail on finding that those who had reportedly sustained injuries in the clash have returned from hospital and a few others arrested in a related case have all been granted bail.