KOCHI: The attempt of the police to arrest 'Marunadan Malayali' editor Shajan Skaria invited criticism from the High Court. Although Shajan, who appeared at the Nilambur police station yesterday for questioning in a case, was taken into custody by the Thrikakkara police in another case, he had to be released after the Ernakulam District Additional Sessions Court granted him anticipatory bail in this case as well.

Shajan reached the Nilambur police station yesterday on the instructions of the High Court in a case of attempting to incite religious hatred. In the meantime, Shajan came to know that the police were planning to arrest him in a forgery case. Following this, he filed an anticipatory bail plea. The police arrested Shajan at 10.25 a.m. while the court was considering this plea. The prosecution told the court that the anticipatory bail application became irrelevant with Shajan's arrest. Rejecting this argument, the court immediately granted anticipatory bail. District Additional Sessions Judge PK Mohandas ordered that Shajan be released yesterday on a bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties of equal amount if arrested. The court severely criticized the police action.

Shajan was taken into custody by the Thrikkakara Police on a complaint filed by Radhakrishnan of Delhi to the Chief Minister alleging that Shajan had registered Tiding Digital Publications by forging a document with the Registrar of Companies and obtained a certificate of incorporation.