NCP MLA Suresh Dhas and his 15 supporters, arrested for allegedly ransacking a branch office of State Bank of Hyderabad and roughing up its staff members, were granted bail by a local court here today.
Principal District & Sessions Judge Vinay Borikar granted bail to the MLA and supporters on personal bond of Rs 15,000 each.
Police had arrested Dhas and eight of his supporters yesterday, while seven others had been arrested last week.
According to police, Dhas, an MLA from Ashti in Beed district, had gone to the bank's Patoda branch on May 16 with some farmers to follow up the loan applications. The farmers wanted loans for taking out silt in the reservoirs, to be spread in the fields. However, the bank had no provision to lend for this purpose, officials said.
Dhas had a heated exchange with the branch manager, and the bank's security guard allegedly threatened him with his gun. Following this, the MLA's supporters ransacked the office and two staff members were beaten up, police said.
