Scripts in "/etc/rc.d/init.d" that use the 'daemon' function may be executed in cron jobs or other offline scripts. Unfortunately the "[OK]" style messages are _always_ wrapped in colorification escape sequences, even if the output is not a tty. There should be a check for tty output.
This has been forwarded to a developer for further action.
fixed in initscripts-4.22, available in next rawhide...