Periyar University Vice Chancellor (VC) R. Jagannathan, who was arrested by the Salem City Police on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, was released on conditional bail by a court early on Wednesday morning.
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A complaint was filed by I. Elangovan, legal advisor, Periyar University Employees Union (PUEU), stating that the V-C ,along with two other professors from other universities had started a private company, Periyar University Technology Entrepreneurship and Research (PUTER) Foundation, without obtaining permission from the government.
The Karuppur police subsequently detained the V-C from the University and conducted inquiries. He was taken to the police station, and a case was registered under Sections 294 (b), 120 (b), 420, 468, 409 r/w 511, 506 (ii) of the Indian Penal Code. Since the complainant said that he was threatened and abused by the V-C when he met him at the university on Tuesday, the police also included Sections 3(1) (r), 3(1) (s) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Later, a medical examination was conducted at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital.
At 3 a.m. on December 27, the V-C was produced before Judicial Magistrate No. II J. Dhineshkumaran at his residence. The V-C moved a bail application, and the magistrate granted him bail for seven days and asked him to sign at the register at the Office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Suramangalam for seven days.
At 11 a.m. on Wednesday, as per his bail conditions, the V-C, accompanied by his lawyers, signed the register at the Office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police and then left.
