After 9 days in prison, Duniya Vijay granted bail

After spending nine days in prison, actor Vijay alias 'Duniya' Vijay has been granted bail by the 70th City Civil and Sessions Court in connection with a case of kidnapping and assaulting celebrity gym trainer, Maruthi Gowda, on the night of September 22.

Along with Vijay his three associates, Prasad, a bodybuilder, Mani, a gym coach and Prasad, his driver were also granted bail by Judge TP Ramalinge Gowda of the 69th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court. They were directed to produce Rs 1 lakh bond and two sureties each. Vijay was told to be a role model for his fans and not to repeat such things in the future.

Judge Gowda directed the accused to cooperate in the investigation and not to tamper with the evidence or influence the witness.

Vijay spent nine days in the Parappana Agrahara Central prison after he and his associates were booked under Section 323 (assault), 362 (kidnap), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 342 (wrongful confinement). He, along with his associates, was released on Monday evening and was welcomed by his supporters at the gate.

On September 26, Vijay's bail plea was rejected by the magistrate court on the ground that the victim was not in a condition to give a statement to the police about the incident and without his statement, the bail cannot be granted. Vijay then filed an appeal before the sessions court. During the hearing, the advocate representing Vijay submitted that Gowda was deliberately giving confusing statements to delay the bail.

On September 22, Krishnamurthy H alias Kitti, who runs the fitness centre Muscle Planet, filed a complaint at the High Grounds police station alleging that his nephew Gowda was abused and assaulted by Vijay and then kidnapped in his car.

Gowda had participated in a bodybuilding competition at Dr B R Ambedkar Bhavan in Vasanth Nagar and Vijay was the Chief Guest at the event.

Soon after the complaint, Vijay was summoned to the police station. He was produced before the magistrate the next day and remanded in judicial custody.