Virudhunagar: Barely a few hours after the Madras High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail pleas, police have formed four special teams to arrest former AIADMK Minister K T Rajenthra Bhalaji in connection with two cases registered against him for cheating government job seekers to the tune of Rs three crore.
Superintendent of Police P Saravanan formed four special teams, headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police to arrest him, sources said.
Bhalaji, who was the Minister for Dairy Development in the previous AIADMK regime, and five others including his three personal assistants were booked under the secs 405 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 120A (criminal conspiracy) and 503 (criminal intimidation) of IPC for cheating different people with the promise of getting government jobs in Aavin and other departments.
The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed two anticipatory bail plea of Bhalaji in cases registered against him for cheating government job seekers to the tune of Rs 3 crores, even as special teams were formed to arrest him.
When the petitions came up for hearing, Justice M Nirmal Kumar said the court is not inclined to entertain either of the anticipatory bail applications.
It is pertinent that the investigation should be concluded first, he said, while dismissing the pleas of the senior AIADMK leader.
The counsel for Bhalaji sought the suspension of the operation of the order for a 15 days to enable him to file an appeal the Supreme Court to which the Judge observed that it was the prerogative of the counsel to move the Supreme Court.
However, the Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail in a matter pertaining to job racketeering allegations, regardless of the position or status of the alleged person, the Judge said.
The Court had on 19 November, granted an interim relief to the petitioner by orally instructing the State Public Prosecutor Hasan Mohammed Jinnah to ensure that police do not take any coercive action till the next hearing.
Virudhanagar District Crime Branch had on 15 and 17 November registered two cases under IPC sections 405 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 120A (criminal conspiracy) against Mr.Bhalaji and five others including his three personal assistants for cheating different persons with the promise of getting government jobs in state-owned Aavin department.
Hours after the court dismissed his plea, Police have formed four special teams to arrest the ex-Minister. The teams have fanned out to Trichy, Virudhunagar and other districts to nab him.