Vaiko gets conditional bail

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader V Gopalswamy aka Vaiko, who has been detained under the Prevention Of Terrorist Act for over 18 months, was granted conditional bail on Tuesday by a POTA court in Chennai.

Designated Judge L Rajendran said the bail would be operative only after Vaiko files an affidavit agreeing to the terms laid down by the court.

The judge directed Vaiko to file the affidavit before furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with two sureties for a like sum, which the court had stipulated as part of the conditions set for bail.

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The judge took note of Tamil Nadu Advocate General N R Chandran's objection to granting bail on the ground that the MDMK leader had not agreed to undertaking the clauses the court might raise while releasing him on bail.

Vaiko was arrested in July 2002 for allegedly speaking in favour of the outlawed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam at a public meeting. He had moved the special court seeking bail on January 13, a day after eight party colleagues, who were also arrested along with him, were granted bail by the Madras high court.

Judge Rajendran directed Vaiko to give an assurance in his affidavit that he would not seek adjournment of the trial on the grounds of political activity, and that he had no counsel to represent him as he appeared in person.

This was necessary in view of the high court order -- that the trial court should hold day-to-day sittings and deliver its verdict by June 30 -- given during granting bail to the eight others in the case, he said.

Telling Vaiko to strictly comply with these conditions, the judge also directed him not to leave city limits or suburban Poonamalee where the court is located.

Besides, he directed the MDMK leader to appear before the POTA court on all working days and the city magistrate on holidays.