Former Indian IG Granted Bail in Idol Smuggling Case

A retired Indian Inspector General of Police (IG), Pon. Manickavel, has been granted conditional pre-arrest bail by the Madras High Court in an idol smuggling case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered a case against Manickavel, who was the former head of the Tamil Nadu Idol Wing, alleging his involvement in the illegal trafficking of idols. The court’s decision followed Manickavel’s plea for bail, arguing that the CBI’s charges lacked sufficient evidence. The CBI had argued against granting bail, claiming that Manickavel’s arrest was crucial to investigate his alleged connections with notorious idol smuggler Subhash Kapoor. However, the court ultimately ruled in favor of Manickavel, imposing conditions requiring him to appear before the CBI office in Chennai for four weeks.