BJP Mayiladuthurai district president denied bail in Adheenam extortion case

The Madras High Court on Wednesday refused to grant bail to BJP Mayiladuthurai district president K. Agoram in a case filed against him and six others for having allegedly attempted to extort money from Dharmapuram Adheenam Sri La Sri Masilamani Swamy by claiming to be in possession of obscene videos and audio clips related to the Mutt.

Justice T.V. Thamilselvi dismissed his bail petition after a law officer informed the court that the petitioner was an accused in more than 40 cases, and that a historysheet had been opened against him.

The judge was convinced that the petitioner could tamper with the evidence if he was enlarged on bail, and took note of the fact that some of the coaccused were absconding.

The police arrested Agoram in Mumbai and remanded him in judicial custody on March 15 on the basis of a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Mayiladuthurai police on February 25. The FIR was filed following a complaint lodged by Viruthagiri, brother of Masilamani Swamy, with the Superintendent of Police.

Obscene clips

According to the complainant, a person named Vinoth, of Adhuthurai, and another individual named Senthil, serving in the Mutt, had been threatening him stating that they were in possession of obscene audio and video clips involving the Mutt head, and that they would make them public if he did not pay them.

The complainant stated that the threats were issued through Vignesh, of Tiruvengadu Sambakattalai, and that the accused had even attempted to strangle him while warning him against approaching the police regarding their demand. He claimed that the threat was issued at the instance of Agoram, advocate Jayachandran of Seiyur and educationist Kodiyarasu.

Mr. Viruthagiri stated that the Mutt head and other administrators had been subjected to mental agony because of the extortion. Hence, the police had filed the FIR.