The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday granted bail to a man from Theni district who was arrested and remanded in judicial custody, following his criticism of the Centre’s decision on Article 370, in his Facebook post.
Justice G.R. Swaminathan granted bail to the man from Bodi, Theni District. Earlier, the Principal Sessions Judge, Theni, had rejected his bail petition, following which he was remanded in judicial custody. It was said that he had also posted a picture of the Indian flag as a tissue paper.
The petitioner, P. Jothibasu from Bodi, a member of the Makkal Adhikaram, in his petition, said even though the allegation of the prosecution was true, the act waswithin the realm of the freedom of expression. After he criticised the Centregovernment on the decision to withdraw the special status to Jammu and Kashmir in his Facebook post, he was booked under sections 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 505.
Further, he was booked under Section 2 of The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and Section 66 (F) of The Information Technology Act, 2000, the petitioner said.
He sought bail and said he was willing to abide by the conditions of the court and furnish substantial sureties.