T’puram: The additional CJM court rejected the custody plea filed by the police and granted conditional bail to right wing political commentator T G Mohandas on Monday in a case registered over his controversial remarks in July against students who had staged a protest over the NEET paper leak in Delhi.The court directed Mohandas to appear before the investigating officer for three consecutive days. He was also ordered to appear before the officer every alternate Monday for three months, until the investigation was complete and the final report was filed. The court directed him to cooperate with the probe and not repeat his offence. As part of his bail conditions, Mohandas was barred from influencing or threatening witnesses and tampering with evidence. He was ordered to execute a bond of Rs 25,000 along with two sureties for a similar amount.Police sources said Mohandas admitted to making the remarks during questioning. Police told the court that he was initially uncooperative and his custody was necessary for further investigation and evidence collection. Police also submitted that custodial interrogation was required in this case.But the defence questioned the police request for custody, arguing that the investigating agency had not even submitted a proper custody application and that there was no justification for taking Mohandas into custody. The defence claimed that the complaint was politically motivated. It submitted that Mohandas was taken into custody only on Sunday though the complaint was filed on July 27. His lawyer said the police had not issued a notice before his arrest. Had he been informed, he would have removed the video from YouTube, said his lawyer.During the hearing, the court asked the prosecution why a notice had not been served on Mohandas before his arrest. The prosecution responded that there was a possibility that the accused would have gone into hiding if a notice was served.
