Innovative punishment for tipsy, abusive rider by HC

Rajarajan, from Melapalayam in Tirunelveli district, along with his friend Senthil and three others, had gone to consume liquor at a TASMAC shop in Thirukurungudi, on June 24. While returning in Senthil’s car, the group was stopped by Thirukurungudi SI Mahendran, who also found liquor bottles in the vehicle.

Following this, all five were asked to step out of the car and undergo a breath test to check whether they had consumed liquor.

When they stepped out, Senthil along with his friends, began a heated altercation with Mahendran which later intensified into verbal abuses. Meanwhile, Rajarajan fled the spot. Sensing that Rajarajan had absconded, police arrested the remaining four and launched a search operation to secure Rajarajan.

With the search operation still on, Rajarajan filed an anticipatory bail petition in the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on June 29 praying the court to issue anticipatory bail to him but instead got an unexpected and direction from the court.

When Justice GR Swaminathan, heard the petition, he directed Rajarajan to seek an apology from SI Mahendran in order to get bail . “The petitioner is directed to apologise in person with folded hands to the Sub-Inspector whom he insulted,” the Judge stated.

Swaminathan also directed the police not to arrest Rajarajan when he came to seek an apology at the police station.

Following the direction, Rajarajan went to the Thirukurungudi police station and sought an apology with folded hands and obtained bail from the court.