The Madras High Court has dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of former minister MR Vijayabhaskar, stating that the petition was moot since he had already been arrested. However, the court restrained the State from arresting his brother, MR Sekar, in the same case.
Justice G Jayachandran directed MR Sekar to appear before the investigation agency and scheduled the next hearing for July 29 for further submissions.
The case involves allegations against MR Vijayabhaskar and MR Sekar of threatening a businessman and his daughter to sell land worth Rs 100 crore for just Rs 95 lakh. The former minister and his brother had filed petitions seeking anticipatory bail in connection with these allegations.
During the hearing, the judge asked the State if there had been any actual transfer of the land title. The State requested additional time to gather instructions, prompting the court to schedule the matter for June 29 to receive a status report on the case.
The complaint was filed by businessman Prakash, who accused MR Vijayabhaskar, MR Sekar, and others of threatening him and attempting to forcibly acquire 22 acres of land in Thoranakkalpatti, Karur, valued at Rs 100 crore.
On June 16, the CB-CID police arrested the former minister in Kerala. Following his arrest, Vijayabhaskar filed an anticipatory bail application, citing the critical health condition of his 84-year-old father, who was hospitalized for surgery in Coimbatore. The former minister expressed his desire to be with his father during this difficult time.