The Editor and two other journalists of leading Telugu daily Andhra Jyothi, who were arrested for allegedly hurling castiest remarks at a Dalit leader, were released from jail in Hyderabad on Friday after a local court granted them bail.

A large number of scribes, gathered at Chanchalguda, burst into joy as Editor K Srinivas and two reporters M Vamsi Krishna and T Srinivas came out of the prison after completing formalities.

The sixth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge had granted bail to the journalists based on a petition moved by the newspaper management.

Speaking outside the prison, the daily's Editor Srinivas alleged the government had foisted a false case against them and that its designs were exposed.

Amid slogans hailing the unity of journalists in condemning the Congress government's "vidictive" attitude against the media, he thanked journalists' bodies, political parties and civil society activists for expressing solidarity.

They were arrested on June 24 based on a complaint by a Dalit organisation alleging that they had insulted its leader and burnt his effigy during a protest rally by Andhra Jyothi employees on May 26.

The rally was in protest against the attack on the newspaper office by activists of a Dalit organization following publication of a controversial story on Dalit leaders.

The arrests evoked widespread condemnation from opposition parties and media organisations which termed it as an "affront" on the press freedom.