Hambantota Mayor Eraj Fernando was released on bail by the Hambantota chief Magistrate after he was produced before the Magistrate Courts this morning.

He was arrested by Special Investigations Unit of Police on April 29, regarding an incident in March 2014, where he stormed into the Ambalantota Police Station and attempted to attack and kidnap a suspect under police custody.

Hambantota Magistrate postponed the case to June 24.

The controversial Mayor was known for the “toy pistol” incident where he threatened a group of UNP fact-finding MPs when former president Mahinda Rajapaksa was in power. In December 2014, he was once more involved in an attack on a group of artistes campaigning for the then common candidate Maithripala Sirisena.