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Supreme Court grants Bail to former Tamil Nadu minister

Mitali Palnitkar

Published On: January 12, 2022 at 18:51 IST

On January 12, 2022, a four-week Bail was granted to KT Rajenthra Bhalaji by the Supreme Court. Bhalaji, who is a former AIADMK Tamil Nadu Minister had been Arrested for being involved in an Alleged job scam.

The Bench hearing the Case was headed by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana and also comprised of Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli. Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the State of Tamil Nadu whereas Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave appeared for Bhalaji

The Court directed Bhalaji’s release on Bail, subject to certain conditions that he shall not leave the Jurisdiction of the Police station (where the Crime had been registered), he shall surrender his passport to the Magistrate, and shall cooperate with the Investigation. The Court also directed to communicate the Order to the Magistrate in-charge.

On January 5, 2022, Bhalaji was arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police from Haasan, Karnataka. He was Accused for collecting money from people in the name of offering Government jobs to them while he was the Minister for Milk and Dairy Development in Aavin, which is a state-run milk producer.

The Tamil Nadu Government led by DMK was slammed by the Court for Arresting Bhalaji even though his Appeal against the rejection of Anticipatory Bail was pending before the Madras High Court.

The Court directed the DMK Government to file an Affidavit giving an explanation with respect to the Arrest of Bhalaji. The Bench was angry on knowing that the Police raided the Lawyers of the Petitioners.

Justice Surya Kant stated, “The manner in which you have Arrested him, the manner in which you have taken him 300 km away from the Jurisdictional Jail… all these call Prima facie for a Judicial Inquiry.”