Darjeeling - Two Czech scientists who were arrested in India for what the local authorities called illegal bug collection were released Friday on bail.

Jan Kreuter of the Czech Embassy in India confirmed the information to Aktuálně.cz.

"Yes, they are free and are about to have dinner with local journalists. But there are strict conditions they will have to observe, though. For example, they cannot leave Darjeeling," said Kreuter.

According to the Czech Entomology Society´s Vladislav Malý, their passports will be kept with the Indian authorities and the two men will have to visit their office twice a week.

"It should not take more than a month. If I understood it correctly, they should be tried soon," said Malý.

Read more: Two Czechs arrested in India for illegal bug collection

Petition to support the scientists

Petr Švácha and Emil Kučera were arrested at the end of June for illegal bug collection. Over 800 scientists are said to have petitioned India's Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the West Bengal Chief Minister, urging for the release of the scientists on bail, as reported by Indian daily Hindu.

The scientists were collecting bug larvae in the Singalila National Park in West Bengal's Darjeeling district without the necessary authorization.

They were not arrested in the park, though, but the police came to arrest them in a hotel.

"They collected primarily larvae which are not that precious," says Kreuter.

Don´t miss: World academics call for release of Czech scientists

The judges have refused to release the two men on bail in two previous hearings.

Scientists protesting

The international community of about 800 scientists has drafted a petition calling for the release of two Czech scientists jailed in an Indian prison together with criminals.

"As members of the scientific community, we are deeply concerned and disturbed over the arrest and continued incarceration of Dr. Švácha and Mr. Kučera," says Dr. Prathapan K.D. in a letter addressed to an Indian National Human Rights Commission.

Dr. Švácha and Emil Kučera were brought to the court Monday handcuffed, along with five other prisoners facing trials, none of whom were cuffed, India´s daily The Telepgraph reported.

"Retention of Dr Švácha and his colleague in custody for over a month without trial and public display of the scientists in handcuffs are totally uncivilized acts uncalled for on the part of a democratic government. We understand that this is in violation of all the Indian and international norms of human rights as well as the directives of the Supreme Court of India," says the scientists´ letter.

Both men face 3 to 7 years in prison.

You can read the Petition herehere.