Madras HC grants pre-arrest bail to ex-AIADMK minister

The Madras High Court today granted anticipatory bail to former AIADMK minister K Pandiarajan in a case against him for allegedly disrespecting the national flag while campaigning for the R K Nagar bypoll.
Granting the bail, Justice S Bhaskaran said Pandiarajan has to appear before the investigating officer as and when required.
A replica of a coffin with late Jayalalithaa's figurine draped in the national flag had been used by the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) faction as part of the bypoll campaign on April 6, highlighting its demand for a probe into her death.
The coffin was placed over the bonnet of an open jeep, with supporters of former chief minister O Panneerselvam seeking votes for their candidate E Madhusudanan.

Pandiarajan, a former school education minister and a Panneerselvam loyalist, had highlighted their demand for the judicial probe during the campaign.
An election officer had filed a complaint with police alleging that Pandiarajan's action violated norms and disrespected the national flag, following which an FIR was registered.
Apprehending arrest, Pandiarajan had moved the court seeking anticipatory bail.
The Election Commission had on April 9 cancelled the bypoll, saying the electoral process has been "seriously vitiated" by parties through use of money power.