TN minister's brother, others get anticipatory bail

Police had filed cases against them under IPC section 306 (abetment of suicide) and Cr.PC 174 following a "suicide note" recovered from the spot.

21-year-old Nagamuthu of Kailapatty area in the district had in the note alleged that Raja and others were "responsible" for his suicide.

Granting conditional bail to them, Justice C T Selvam od Madurai bench asked Raja and another accused Pandi to appear before the Thenkarai police station on Saturdays and Sundays.

Three other accused Sivakumar, Logu and Saravanan had been asked to appear before the Inspector of Thenkarai police station daily.

In the suicident note, Nagamuthu had alleged that Raja had "sidelined" him from renovation work of Kailasanathar temple at Kailasapatti and also threatened to have him branded as a thief if he got involved further in the work.

Cases had already been registered against the petitioners, except Raja, who were with the Protection Committee of the temple, for allegedly abusing Nagamuthu by caste name. He was earlier called to police station in connection with a theft case inquiry.

The petitioners denied that they instigated Nagamuthu to commit suicide.