Actor surrenders, granted bail

Malayalam film actor Kalabhavan Mani, against whom a case has been lodged for allegedly manhandling two forest officials, today surrendered before police and later took bail from a court.
Mani reached Athirapally police station at around 1.45 PM where he was questioned. He told the investigating officers that he had not attacked the forest officials.
The actor was then taken to Judicial Magistrate court at Chalakudy where he was granted bail on executing a bond of Rs 50,000 and two solvent sureties for the like amount.
The Kerala High Court had yesterday directed Mani to appear before police for interrogation on or before May 25.

The High Court had also directed Mani not to intimidate witnesses and cooperate with investigating officials.
The actor had claimed innocence and had said he was abused by the forest officials when he tried to prevent them from insulting his friend's wife who was in his car.

An FIR was lodged against the actor under Section 506 (criminal intimidation), 322 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servants from duty) and 249b (uttering obscene words) of IPC, police said.
According to the complaint, Mani objected to his car being searched by the two officials when they stopped his vehicle while it was passing through Kannamkuzhi.

Mani and his friends allegedly pushed aside the beat forest officer and the deputy range officer and drove away from the spot. After some time, they returned to the forest office and allegedly roughed up and abused them.
After being granted bail, the actor told reporters that he was thankful to the court and the state government.