Madras High Court grants Justice CS Karnan conditional bail [Read Order]

The Madras High Court on Tuesday granted conditional bail to former High Court Judge, CS Karnan, who was arrested for making derogatory remarks against judges and women in videos circulated online. .Bail was granted after Justice Karnan moved a second bail plea before the High Court, which had earlier dismissed the first batch of applications for his release on bail last month. .Justice V Bharathidasan granted bail to subject to personal bond of Rs. 50,000 and two sureties. .Justice Karnan also undertook not to make any statement, posts against judges, the institution, their family, staff, lawyers and others and to desist from making any complaints or publishing any posts on social media. He was also directed to cooperate with the investigation agency by appearing before it whenever required..In urging for the grant of bail, Karnan had told the Court that he had made the controversial remarks while undergoing severe mental depression. His family members also filed affidavits, tendering apologies for his remarks. Appearing for the former Judge, Senior Advocate G Rajagopalan also submitted that Karnan's health status has been deteriorating in jail and that he requires treatment. .Given the submissions made over the post-COVID-19 complications being suffered by Karnan and in view of his undertaking not to interfere with the investigation or tamper with evidence, the Court today decided to allow his release on bail, subject to the following, among other, conditions:Karnan should not release any videos, or postings, or derogatory statements in any print, electronic and social media as well as in public platforms in future;Karnan should refrain from issuing derogatory or abusive statements against the Judiciary as a whole, Judges and their family members, lawyers and the staff members of this Registry in any print, electronic and social medias as well as in public platforms in future;Upon his release from prison, Karnan shall stay at Chennai until further orders;Karnan shall report before the respondent police as and when required for interrogation and fully cooperate with the respondent police for investigation;He shall not commit any offences of similar nature.He should not abscond during investigation or trial. ."If the petitioner fails to adhere to any of the above conditions, the bail granted to the petitioner shall stand cancelled", the Court cautioned..Senior Advocate G Rajagopalan and Advocate M Ravichandran appeared for Karnan. Additional Public Prosecutor M Prabhavathi appeared for the State authorities. Senior Advocate S Prabhakaran and Advocate CK Chandrasekar appeared for the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, which had intervened in the matter to oppose the grant of bail. .Read the Order: