2 suspects in Kodanad case get breather

Ooty: On the petition seeking to cancel the bail on the two accused, Sayan and 'Valayar' Manoj in the sensational Kodanad estate break-in cum murder case, the duo who sought to link the Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswamy to the incident in a recent interview in New Delhi, the district and sessions court here adjourned the matter to February 2 for further hearing.

Mr. Bala Nandakumar, the public prosecutor of Nilgiris, last week moved a petition pleading for cancellation of bail to Sayan and Manoj alias Valayar Manoj, stating that they may tamper with the evidences and pose a threat to the witnesses in this case.

Both  Sayan and Manoj, appeared in the district and sessions court here on Tuesday, filed a counter-affidavit and sought more time for further hearing in this case.  

However, on hearing the arguments fromboth the sides, the court adjourned the matter to February 2, passing instructions that both the accused in this case should appear in person on that day.

Soon after coming out of the court, their counsel escorted them to the bar association room in the premises, to prevent the media from approaching the accused duo. 

This led to brief furore as some other lawyers objected to the entry of the accused inside the bar association room.  However, the duo left the room immediately paving way for normalcy to return.