Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy granted anticipatory bail

NEW DELHI: Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, accused of writing an "inflammatory" article in a Mumbai daily, was today granted anticipatory bail by the Delhi High Court.

"In the event of arrest, he shall be released on furnishing of a personal bond and a surety of Rs 25,000 each," Justice M L Mehta said while taking on record Swamy's undertaking that he would refrain from writing such articles in future.

"Though writing an article based on a book is a fundamental right of a citizen but this right has to be observed with certain reasonable restrictions which have to be taken care of," the court said.

It also appreciated Swamy for giving an unequivocal undertaking that he will obey the restrictions imposed on him.

"You are a very wise man. You write whatever you want to write but follow the reasonable restrictions. I appreciate your gesture of filing an undertaking," Justice Mehta said while disposing of Swamy's bail application.

In response to court's observation that India is a secular country and emotions of every section of the society have to be respected, Swamy said, "I have Muslim relatives. I have Christian relatives. I have a Parsi wife."

The court also observed that no case of communal disharmony has been reported in the country after publication of the alleged inflammatory article in a newspaper on July 16 last year.

The Delhi Police had earlier opposed Swamy's anticipatory bail plea, saying he should not be granted bail as the matter was serious.