A day after an FIR was filed against him for intimidating and abusing police personnel, Magadi MLA H C Balakrishna surrendered himself before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court on Friday morning and obtained conditional bail.

The JD(S) legislator surrendered himself fearing imminent arrest. The court adjourned the hearing until evening and then granted bail by ordering him to post a Rs 50,000 bond, visit the police station every week and cooperate in the investigation whenever summoned. The court warned him against tampering with evidence.

Balakrishna, along with his supporters, had stormed into the Kudur police station on Wednesday and caused a ruckus. He abused the inspector and the sub-inspector in front of other staff for not arresting the suspect in a case filed by one of his supporters. He also threatened to lock down the police station.

The matter pertained to a scuffle between one of his supporters, Ramesh, and a Congress gram panchayat leader, Rangaswamy. Ramesh had organised a religious function at a temple in Chikkasandra hobli on Sunday. Rangaswamy took offence at not being invited to the event and caused a ruckus.

The next morning, he and his associates vandalised Ramesh’s house and car. Ramesh made a complaint to police the same day while Rangaswamy filed a counter complaint. Police, however, didn’t arrest Rangaswamy on the basis of Ramesh’s complaint, infuriating the MLA. The Kudur police have registered an FIR against the MLA.