Chennai: The Madras high court has slammed yesteryear film director Bharathiraja for not complying with the bail conditions. Justice S. Rajamanickam, before whom the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, said that there were several news reports saying that Bharathiraja was participating in various programmes. “Why can’t he approach the lower court and seek for advance bail, as stipulated by the court earlier?” the judge asked.
According to Bharathiraja, Vadapalani police had registered a FIR after more than four months based on the complaint lodged by V.G. Narayanan on January 19. This had been done deliberately because he had been criticising the Central and state governments for failing to constitute the Cauvery Management Board.
The complaint lodged against him was false and baseless. And fearing arrest, Bharathiraja moved the high court for advance bail, which was granted on May 23. One of the bail conditions the court directed him to appear before the Vadapalani police daily for three weeks and thereafter, surrender before the magistrate court concerned in Saidapet for advance bail.
However, Bharathiraja did not approach the Saidapet magistrate court. As the time stipulated barred, he moved the HC again with the present petition today to seek more time to appear before the Saidapet court.
On Wednesday, Justice S Rajamanickam pulled up the film directed for not complying the bail conditions. The judge, however, issued notice to the complainant Narayanan and posted the matter for further hearing on July 17.
