A court here today granted bail to 12 persons arrested in connection with the petrol-bomb attack at theatres here ahead of release of Vijay-starrer Tamil film Kathi.
Principal Sessions Judge N Authinathan gave the relief allowing their bail pleas.
On October 20, an unidentified group had hurled stones and petrol bombs at Sathyam Theatres here protesting the release of the film allegedly part-produced by a production house having links with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse.
Advocate S Duraisamy and V Elangovan, appearing on behalf of the accused, submitted that the 12 arrested youths had been implicated only for political reasons and had no bad antecedents.
He further submitted that the investigation into the violence was already over and the youths had already spent 14 days in jail, adding that the alleged damage to the theatre was estimated at Rs 50,000.
Considering the arguments and noting that the entire incident had been captured in a CCTV installed at the theatre premises which meant the probe into the case was substantially over, the Judge granted them bail and directed them to execute a personal bond of Rs 5,000 each besides furnishing two sureties each for like sum.
He also asked each of the petitioner to deposit Rs 2,000 each before the XIII Metropolitan Magistrate Court, which would be refunded to them after final orders are passed in the matter.
