Bangalore : The High Court of Karnataka on Monday granted bail to Naveen Soorinje, the television journalist arrested in connection with the attack on a homestay in Mangalore. He has been directed to furnish a bond for Rs five lakh along with two sureties.

Vijay Kumar, the complainant, was present during the hearing following a direction by the Court. He submitted that the clippings of attack on girls at the homestay was not shot by Soorinje, but by another person by name Sharan.

Kumar also made a submission on the letter which he had written to Justice Markandeya Katju, the Chairperson of Press Council of India. In the letter, Kumar had claimed that he never made any complaint against Soorinje and the police had obtained his signature on a blank paper. The Court had asked Kumar to appear before the Court.

State Public Prosecutor, Doreraj, strongly opposed bail for Soorinje on the ground that the latter had been booked under several laws. He submitted stringent conditions be imposed in case the Court grants him bail.

Soorinje had submitted a video CD on his version of the episode and the Court watched clippings on March 15.

Justice K Sreedhar Rao, while granting bail, directed Soorinje to co-operate with the investigation and not to destroy evidence. The Court had rejected his bail plea in December 2012.-DH News