Chennai: The two main accused allegedly involved in a robbery case at the Kodanadu tea estate, frequented by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, today appeared before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Egmore here.
“The accused Sayan and Manoj appeared before the Magistrate at 10.45 am in the court campus. Sayan was almost unrecognisable with his clean shaven look. Magistrate R Saritha told the duo to submit a surety bond before 5.45 pm today,” a source said.
The case got murkier when on 11 January, when Samuel Mathews, former Editor of Tehelka, released a video featuring Sayan and Manoj linking Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami to the crime.
He alleged that Palaniswami was behind the break-in to retrieve important documents. Soon after the claim, a special team of Chennai police went to Delhi based on a complaint and arrested Sayan and Manoj. But the Egmore court granted them bail and asked them to appear today.
It may be noted that, Sayan and Manoj were accused of allegedly orchestrating a robbery at the 800-acre tea estate in Kodanadu on 24 April 2017, four months after the former Chief Minister’s death.