Court offers Vaiko bail, with curbs

A POTA court today dangled a bail for Vaiko but piled up restrictions, leaving the MDMK chief confused. The designated special POTA court at...

A POTA court today dangled a bail for Vaiko but piled up restrictions, leaving the MDMK chief confused. The designated special POTA court at Poonamallee agreed to grant bail but placed stringent curbs on his movement and speech. Vaiko told the court he could decide to accept or reject bail only after consulting his lawyer. The hearing was adjourned to Wednesday.

POTA judge L. Rajendran said Vaiko would have to appear in person before the court on all working days and help conduct the trial on a day-to-day basis so that it could be completed by June 30, the deadline set by the HC. He should not provoke adjournment, whatever his situation.

Besides he should not leave the city limits beyond Poonamallee and should surrender his passport. He would have to sign the register in the court on working days and on holidays, at the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Egmore. In the course of the trial, he should neither interact with print or visual media nor make speeches in connection with the case. MDMK members shouldn’t comment on the case either.

He would have to file a sworn affidavit and execute a bond with two sureties at Rs 50,000 each. If any of the conditions was violated, the investigating agency had the liberty to take appropriate steps to revoke bail, the judge said.

A court in Antwerp passed the order initiating the formal process of bringing Choksi back to India. But, he still has options to challenge the order passed by the lower court.

Belgian court clears fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi’s extradition to India

India4 hr ago

Mehul Choksi, a fugitive diamantaire wanted in India for a Rs 13,000 crore loan fraud case, has been cleared for extradition by a court in Antwerp, Belgium. The Indian government has assured that Choksi will be held in a specific jail complex and provided with basic amenities if extradited. Choksi's extradition proceedings have advanced in Belgium and he has the option to challenge the order.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS