CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has granted anticipatory bail to Dr V Ponraj, former scientific advisor to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, in connection with the cases registered against him by the police for making derogatory comments against women supporting TVK.
Justice R Sakthivel passed the orders on Friday granting the pre-arrest bail in the cases registered against him by the Cyber Crime Wing of Greater Chennai Police based on a complaint lodged by TVK president C Joseph Vijay and the Cuddalore New Town police on the complaint by the party’s district secretary.
However, the judge said Ponraj ought to have exercised utmost caution and care before making such statements. He said the intent of the petitioner behind the material statements is a matter for trial and no comment can be expressed on the same at this stage by this court. However, he should be very careful during a public interview on the impact it may cause.
“In today’s digital era, once a statement is made, that too in a digital platform, it cannot be easily withdrawn. Though the petitioner claims his statement to be one of societal interest, he ought to have exercised utmost care and caution before making a statement which could turn out to be a morally provocative one,” the judge said in the order. He also remarked that a person claiming to be of high stature must exercise some self-restriction before delivering words in a public forum.
