Illegal sand mining case: Madras HC grants bail to bishop, five priests
The Hindu
‘The main accused has been granted anticipatory bail’
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday granted bail to the Bishop and five other priests of Syro Malankara Diocese of Pathanamthitta, Kerala, who were arrested by the CB-CID police recently in connection with illegal sand mining reported at Pottal village near Kallidaikurichi in Tirunelveli district.
Justice K. Murali Shankar granted the bail with certain conditions to Bishop Samuel Mar Irenios and priests Shaji Thomas, George Samuel Puthenvilayil, Jose Kalavila, Sijo James and Jose Chamakalayil. The petitioners said they were not involved in the illegal sand mining.
The court took note of the fact that the main accused in the case, Manuvel George of Kerala, had been granted anticipatory bail by the High Court. Bishop Samuel Mar Irenios and Father Jose Chamakalayil were suffering from cancer and they were under treatment, it was submitted.