COIMBATORE: Twelve more persons, found guilty of minor charges in the 1998 serial blasts, were granted bail on Monday by the Sessions Court trying the cases.

With this, the total number of persons granted bail and released, has risen to 69.

Judge K Uthirapathy, after going through the 38 petitions, granted bail to 12 of them, this afternoon.

Of the 166 arrested in connection with the February 14 blasts during the visit of BJP leader L K Advani, claiming 58 lives, 158 have been convicted. Of this, 69 are convicted for major charges like criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder, murder and promoting hatred between two communities.