The Madras High Court has granted conditional bail to Omkar Balaji, son of Indu Makkal Katchi leader Arjun Sampath and leader of the youth wing, in a case related to alleged threatening remarks against the editor of Nakkheeran newspaper.
Breaking.
Omkar Balaji's bail granted.
Jai Hind.
— Indu Makkal Katchi (off) (@Indumakalktchi) December 4, 2024
The Race Course Police in Coimbatore registered a case based on a complaint by Abdul Jalil, alleging that Balaji made threatening remarks during a protest on the 27 October 2024. The protest was held to condemn Nakkheeran newspaper for allegedly spreading defamation about the Isha Yoga Center.
IMK president Arjun Sampath and Omkar Balaji were both present at the event. According to reports, a DMK member and auto-rickshaw dealer, A. Abdul Jaleel, who apparently “overheard” Omkar’s speech while on his way for personal errands, filed a police complaint the following day.
The complaint alleged that Omkar Balaji had threatened to drag Nakkheeran Gopal through the streets, handcuff him, and imprison him once the DMK loses power in Tamil Nadu. He was also accused of threatening to cut off the journalist’s tongue. IMK cadres note that Omkar had just used a commonly used colloquial remark in the heat of the moment.
Balaji was initially arrested after his anticipatory bail application was rejected. Subsequently, he filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking bail.
Hearing the petition, High Court Judge A.D. Jagadish Chandra ordered Balaji’s release on bail with a specific condition: he must report to the Coimbatore Race Course Police Station and sign in at 10:30 AM daily.
(With inputs from Samayam Tamil)
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