Chiranjeevi`s son-in-law granted bail in dowry harassment case

Hyderabad: A local court today granted conditional bail to G Shirish Bharadwaj, son-in-law of actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, who is facing a dowry harassment case.

The 13th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court (Mahila court) ordered release of Bharadwaj on a personal bond of Rs 20,000 with two sureties of the same amount. The court, however, has directed him to appear before the Hyderabad Police every Sunday till a chargesheet is filed in the case or for three months, whichever is early. Shirish Bharadwaj, who remained absconding since March this year after Chiranjeevi`s daughter K Srija had filed a complaint against him and mother-in-law Suryamangala alleging she was being harassed by the duo for additional dowry of Rs 50 lakh, had surrendered before the court last week. Based on her complaint, the woman police station at the Central Crime Station (CCS) registered a case against them. After his surrender, the court had sent Bharadwaj in judicial custody till August 10. Seeking Bharadwaj`s bail, the defence counsel last week argued that his client had surrendered before the police as he wanted to prove his innocence. Opposing the bail, the prosecution expressed apprehension that Bharadwaj might again go underground if he was enlarged on bail. Srija, the youngest daughter of Chirajneevi, married Shirish in 2007 against the wishes of her family and then fled to Delhi. She had also approached a court there seeking protection from her family. The couple has a daughter. PTI