Govt Job Offer Scam: Madras High Court Orally Directs TN Police To Refrain From Arresting Former Minister Rajenthra Bhalaji Till Wednesday

The Madras High Court has orally asked the Tamil Nadu Police not to arrest till the next date of hearing, former Minister and Senior AIADMK member, K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji, accused in the government job offer scam.Justice M Nirmal Kumar, while adjourning the matter till next Wednesday, orally observed, "Till Wednesday, I will ask the police not to take any action. The police can proceed with the investigation. Till then, no coercive steps."The hearing was adjourned to enable the impleadment of complainants. The counsel appearing for one of the alleged victims (S. Raveendran) in the scam, informed the court that she would like to file an intervening petition to oppose the anticipatory bail pleas. During the hearing, Advocate Ajmal Khan appearing for the former Minister claimed that the allegations are politically motivated. He submitted that one of the complainants, K. Vijaya Nallathambi, is involved in certain criminal cases and has political links.Khan further highlighted that two FIRs were registered against Bhalaji bearing Crime No 19/ 2021 and Crime No. 20/ 2021, arising out of the same transaction.He added that the former Minister is willing to cooperate in investigation and shall appear in case a notice under Section 41A CrPC is issued to him. Unless police protection is accorded, a Damocles sword will be hanging over my client till Wednesday since the police could arrest me anytime, Khan added. State public prosecutor Hasan Mohammed Jinnah argued that the allegations against Bhalaji are not restricted to the swindling of money but also includes an attempt to murder. He submitted there are allegations against Bhalaji that he tried to murder another person and arranged a room for the hooligans. Virudhanagar District Crime Branch had registered two cheating cases under Section 420 IPC against the former minister and his personal assistants. Afterwards, the co-accused in the first cheating case and an allegedly close aid of Bhalaji, K Vijaya Nallathambi, filed another complaint against Balaji on the same lines. Subsequent to these cases, Bhalaji filed anticipatory bail applications before Madras High Court, arguing that the cheating cases have been politically motivated and solely meant to tarnish his reputation. The first complainant, one of the alleged victims, Mr S Raveendran has accused K Nallathambi of collecting Rs 30 lakhs from him, whom he says he met via Mariappan, another AIADMK member. S. Raveendran's case is that his nephew was promised a job as the manager in Aavin (state diary board); he handed over the money to Nallathambi after he met with the then Milk & Dairy Development Minister Rajenthra Bhalaji. The second cheating case is based on the complaint lodged by K. Nallathambi stating that the public paid crores of rupees to him and the amount so collected was given to Bhalaji's personal assistants for securing government jobs. The FIRs book the Minister for offences including criminal breach of trust, criminal intimidation and cheating. K.Nallathambi and S. Raveendran also contend that Bhalaji has failed to repay the amount so collected and given to his assistants. Case Title: K.T Rajendra Bhalaji v. The State of Tamil Nadu & Ors Case No: Cr OP (MD)/ 18236/ 2021

Govt Job Offer Scam: Madras High Court Orally Directs TN Police To Refrain From Arresting Former Minister Rajenthra Bhalaji Till Wednesday

Sebin James

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