Madurai, Apr 26 (PTI) The Madras High Court today granted conditional bail to retired joint commissioner K K Raja and Stapathi M Muthiah against whom the Idol wing police had filed a case for causing loss of Rs 1.31 crore in making a new idol for a hill shrine at Palani in 2004. Justice G R Swaminathan granted interim conditional bail with a direction to them not to use mobile phone or Internet for 90 days.

They should be monitored by police and cooperate in the investigation, the judge said. The judge also directed that Muthiah should stay in Chennai for three months.

The judge set aside the DGP order transferring the case from the Idol wing to the CB-CID. the Idol wing IG Pon Manickavel personally appeared in court and argued the case. Muthiah and retired Joint commissioner were accused of malpractices and criminal breach of trust while making the panchaloha (five metals) idol of Sri Baladhandayuthapaniswamy. Earlier, the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Kumbakonam had rejected their bail pleas.

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