Chennai: Ending over 18 months of incarceration under POTA (Prevention of Corruption Act), MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) chief Vaiko is set to walk out of the Vellore Central prison tomorrow (Feb 7, 2004), with the designated POTA court today directing his release on bail after he fulfilled all requirements laid down by the court.

MDMK advocate Nanmaran, who is leaving for Vellore immediately, received the bail order from the POTA court, MDMK sources said.

Earlier in the day, Vaiko completed the formalities for furnishing a personal bond for Rs 50,000 with two sureties for like amounts and sent it to the designated Judge L Rajendran, along with his passport, which he had been ordered to be deposited with the court as part of the bail conditions.

Police said Vaiko had not been taken to the high security POTA court at suburban Poonamallee today due to indisposition.

Vaiko had given an undertaking to abide by bail conditions yesterday but could not complete the formalities following a bout of giddiness and was taken back to Vellore jail, about 140 kms from Chennai.

While relaxing some of the bail conditions on February 4, the Madras High Court had directed Vaiko to furnish the undertaking. The conditions included cooperating in day-to-day trial of the case and not to cause any delay in the trial.

He was detained under the anti-terror law since July 2002, along with eight of his party-men, for allegedly speaking in favour of the banned LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) at a public meeting at Tirumangalam in Madurai district in June that year.