Conditional anticipatory bail granted to Veerapandi

CHENNAI: The Madras high court on Friday granted conditional anticipatory bail to former agriculture minister Veerapandi S Arumugam, directing him to present himself before the central crime branch police in Salem for interrogation at 10am on Monday. The court order will facilitate the former minister to participate in the two-day DMK general council, beginning in Coimbatore on Saturday.
Passing orders on the DMK leader’s application for anticipatory bail in a land grab complaint , Justice G Rajasuria said Arumugam should be produced before the fifth judicial magistrate in Salem on Wednesday by 5pm after interrogation in police custody. He would have to execute a personal bond for Rs 25,000 and like sum for two sureties when he appears before the magistrate court.
Theformer minister would then have to appear before the CCB, Salem , every morning at 8am until further orders.
Arumugam filed for anticipatory bail after V Ravichandran from Salem lodged a complaint, alleging that he was forced to sell his property due to pressurefrom theformer minister . While the building on the land was demolished after it changed hands, it is estimated that the present value of the property is around .85 crore . A complaint had also been filed by D Ganesan against Arumugam on July 15, accusing him of usurping 22,236 sqft of land belonging to23familiesin AngammalColonythree years ago .
During the hearing on Friday, counsel appearing for the minister sought that he be provided protection for the nexttwo days since he was scheduled to attend the DMK meeting over the weekend . The court turned down the request.
Soon after the FIR was filed in the complaints against him , Arumugam left Salem and was not reachable. Four other accused in the case were arrested by the police . Meanwhile , his plea for anticipatory bail came up in thecourton Friday .
Besides handing over a petition to the chief secretary , a DMK delegation also met governor Surjit Singh Barnala and handed over a memorandum , saying cases were being foisted on DMK functionaries and cadres .