The Madras High Court has relaxed the conditions imposed on senior BJP leader H Raja while his appeal is pending.
The case relates to social media posts made in 2018, including one that allegedly insulted DMK MP Kanimozhi and another referring to removing a Periyar statue, similar to an incident involving a Lenin statue in Tripura.
Based on complaints over the two posts, a Chennai special court tried the cases and, on December 2, 2024, sentenced Raja to six months’ imprisonment in each case and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 per case.
Raja challenged the verdict in the High Court, which stayed the sentence and earlier directed him to appear in person before the trial court on the first working day of every month.
Citing ill health and stating that he has been admitted to a private hospital, Raja sought relaxation of the condition. Justice A D Jagadish Chandira ordered that Raja’s lawyer may appear before the trial court on his behalf.
