Pathanamthitta: BJP Kerala general secretary K Surendran, arrested while on his way to Sabarimala, has been granted conditional bail.
A court here on Wednesday asked the BJP leader not to visit Sabarimala and not to enter Ranni taluk for two months. The court has also granted conditional bail to 68 people who were arrested from Sannidhanam. All of them have to deposit Rs 40,000.
Surendran was taken into preventive custody Saturday night, later remanded and sent to the Kottaraka sub-jail Sunday, as police suspected that he might create 'trouble' at the temple complex.
Surendran alleged that he was ill-treated at the police station, a claim denied by the police and Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran.
BJP workers observed a 'protest day' on Sunday and blocked vehicles on the highways at various places in the state, protesting the police action against Surendran.
Earlier on Saturday, Hindu Aikya Vedi leader K P Sasikala was taken into preventive custody and granted bail.
The temple had opened on Friday evening for the 64-day annual pilgrimage season, even as the stand-off continued over the entry of women of child-bearing age into the shrine following a Supreme Court order on September 28.
Since a non-bailable warrant is pending against him before the Kannur magistrate court, Surendran will have to seek bail in that case to come out of jail. He has been sent an arrest warrant for threatening the Kannur Police. A request has also been submitted, seeking security to transport him to Kannur.
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