Chennai: Madras high court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to NTK office-bearer and YouTuber A Duraimurugan alias ‘Saattai’ Duraimurugan. Allowing an application moved by Duraimurugan, Justice N Ramesh granted the relief.Chennai police cybercrime wing registered a case against Duraimurugan based on a complaint filed by A Christopher, a TVK cadre, on Oct 3 in connection with an alleged YouTube video uploaded by the accused on Sept 30 against chief minister C Joseph Vijay and minister Aadhav Arjuna.According to the complainant, Duraimurugan made unsubstantiated allegations against the ruling govt and accused it of having done nothing since it assumed power in the state. Opposing the complaint, the petitioner contended that the allegations made against him were false and politically motivated.The FIR had been registered to curb freedom of speech and expression and scuttle democratic dissent. He said his YouTube video contained only decent political constructive criticism against the state govt in the interest of the people at large.The case does not require custodial interrogation, and he had already appeared for the police inquiry. He was willing to cooperate with the investigation, the petitioner’s counsel said.
