Udhagamandalam: A local court on Thursday directed two persons accused in the Kodanad murder case to appear before it on January 29, hearing a police plea to cancel their bail.

When the petition by the investigating officer came up for hearing before district Judge P Vadamalai, the government pleader argued that the accused, Sayan and Manoj, were hampering the probe by issuing public statements on the case.

As the counsel for the accused sought time to present their counter, the judge declined to cancel the bail and ordered the two accused to appear before it on January 29.

The Tamil Nadu government had last week moved court to cancel the bail granted to the duo in connection with the case.

On April 23, 2017, the security guard of the Kodanad estate, the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa's retreat home in the Nilgiris district, was murdered during an attempt of robbery by a 10-member gang.
 
It emerged during the probe that Jayalalithaa's former driver C Kanagaraj and Sayan had allegedly plotted the crime.

A total of 10 people were arrested in the case.  A charge sheet was filed against them subsequently.
 
On January 11, former Tehelka managing editor Samuel Mathew had released a 16-minute video in which the accused were heard alleging that Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami was linked to the case.