Tamil orator Nellai Kannan granted conditional bail

When his bail petition came up for hearing, Principal District Judge A Nazir Ahamed granted bail to the 75-year-old septuagenarian with a condition that he should appear before the Melapalayam police station twice a day (morning and evening) and affix his signature, till further orders, besides to execute a personal bond of Rs 10,000. Kannan's address on December 29, last year at a meeting in the Muslim-dominated Melapalayam locality in Tirunelveli district, was seen as an incitement to Muslims to "finish off" Shah, whom he dubbed "the brain behind the Prime Minister." Though Kannan later claimed that he only meant the 'termination' of political aspiration of the two leaders and not their lives. The BJP leaders held protests against the hate speech of Kannan across the State and demandedto arrest him.

Tirunelveli district president of BJP A Dhayasankar lodged a complaint with Tirunelveli City Police Commissioner, Deepak M Damor seeking action against Kannan. The Melapalayam police registered a case against Kannan and arrested him at Perambalur on January 1 and remanded him in judicial custody. He is presently lodged in Salem prison.

The Madras High Court on Friday directed the Tamil Nadu Government to file a counter to a plea filed by Tamil orator Nellai Kannan seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him for alleged provocative remarks against the Prime Minister and Home Minister. Justice Jagadeesh Chandra posted the case for hearing on January 20, after the government Advocate strongly objected to the petition seeking quashing of the case.