Social activist T.J. Abraham, who was arrested on Thursday in a 10-year-old case, was granted bail on Friday.
Mr Abraham, who has filed private complaints before the Lokayukta court against former minister D.K. Shivakumar, former chief ministers S.M. Krishna, Dharam Singh, H.D. Kumaraswamy and B.S. Yeddyurappa, was granted bail by the 11th additional chief metropolitan magistrate.
Mr Abraham was released from the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail around 8 pm after the copy of the court order reached the prison officials.
On Friday, senior Supreme Court counsel K.V. Dhananjay argued that Mr Abraham should be granted bail as his arrest was politically motivated. The public prosecutor, raising objections, said Mr Abraham could threaten witnesses if released.
The Banaswadi police had chargesheeted Mr Abraham after Rajan Choudhry filed a complaint alleging that Mr Abraham assaulted him with a cricket bat in 2001.
“The court was pleased to enlarge Mr Abraham on bail after hearing the arguments. There was no material to establish that Mr Abraham might threaten the witness.
Moreover, the police stated that Mr Abraham was not available and got a proclamation order from the court, while he was in and out of Lokayukta court.
We submitted judicial proceedings to establish that Abraham was in the town and was attending courts in the city,’’ Mr Dhananjay said.
Magistrate Rajeev Gowda ordered grant of bail to Mr Abraham on Rs 8,000 cash surety. Around 30 farmers were present during the proceedings and came forward to provide sureties.
On Thursday, the Banaswadi police arrested Mr Abraham claiming that they were executing a non-bailable warrant issued against him.
The Banaswadi police inspector, however, had filed an application stating they could not find the accused (in 2441/2001) and to declare him a proclaimed offender.
The police filed the application seeking a non-bailable warrant against Mr Abraham on November 16 and executed it on Thursday.
The court had remanded Mr Abraham to judicial custody till December 4.