Bharatha Madha memorial case: BJP State Vice Prez gets bail

CHENNAI: The Madras High court on Wednesday granted conditional bail to BJP state vice president KP Ramalingam and others for break-opening the gates of Bharatha Madha Memorial in Papparapatti village in Dharmapuri district on August 11.

Justice N Sathish Kumar granted the relief on disposing of the criminal original petitions filed by Ramalingam and four others. The petitioners sought direction to release them on bail.

The judge granted the bail on the ground that the only allegation against the petitioners was that they broke open the gate, where the statue of Bharatha Madha is available and thereby caused the damage. “Considering the nature of the allegation and also the period of incarceration by the petitioners from the date of their arrest i.e., August 15, this Court is inclined to grant bail to the petitioners,” Justice Kumar noted.

Advocate RC Paul Kanagaraj appearing for the petitioners submitted that due to political motive, the petitioners were implicated in this case,” the counsel informed the court.

In Ramalingam’s plea, the advocate said that his client is aged about 69 years and has to undergo coronary angiography as per the advice of the doctor.

Additional Advocate General E Raj Thilak submitted that the petitioners broke open the gate with stone and garlanded the statue and went away despite the watchman who is the complainant in the case preventing them.

However, the judge directed all the petitioners except Ramalingam to appear before Judicial Magistrate, Pennagaram daily at 10.30 am. Considering the medical history of Ramalingam, the judge ordered him to appear before the Judicial Magistrate, Pennagaram at 10.30 am every Monday until further orders.