Government Job Scam Case: SC grants interim bail to former Tamil Nadu AIADMK Minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji
The Supreme Court in the case of K.T. Rajenthrabhalaji v/s State Through the Inspector of Police granted interim bail to former Tamil Nadu AIADMK Minister KT Rajenthrabhalaji.
The High Court had dismissed the anticipatory bail application(s) preferred by the petitioner(s). Challenging the said dismissal, the petitioner(s) preferred the two Special Leave Petitions. Unfortunately, due to the intervening winter vacation of the Court, the matters could not be taken up despite the best efforts made by the counsel for the petitioner(s). After reopening of the Court, the Special Leave Petitions were listed for the first time before the Court on 6th of January 2022. On that date, the court was informed by Mr. Dushyant Dave that his client Mr. K.T.
Rajenthrabhalaji had been taken into custody by the police authorities despite the imminent listing of these Special Leave Petitions before the Court, which fact had been duly informed to the police authorities. He further contended that a Writ Petition had been filed challenging the arrest.
Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, senior counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent State vehemently opposed the prayer for grant of any interim relief to the petitioner Mr. K.T. Rajenthrabhalaji based on some statements recorded under Sections 161 and 164 Cr.P.C produced by him. He further contended that this Court should not entertain the writ petition preferred by the petitioner as he had an alternate efficacious remedy available to him.
Mr. Dushyant Dave, senior counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner Mr. K.T. Rajemthrabhalaji contended that the events surrounding the petitioner’s arrest were extremely suspicious. He submitted that after filing of the Special Leave Petitions, a letter was written by the Advocate-on-Record appearing on behalf of the petitioner to Mr. Manoharan, IPS, and Mr. Ganeshdos, Inspector regarding the same, and for deference of any coercive steps till the Special Leave Petitions are considered by this Court.
The three judges bench of The Chief Justice N.V. Ramana, Mr. Justice Surya Kant and Ms. Justice Hima Kohli taking into consideration all the facts, and the guidelines and directions passed by the Court in Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar, which were reiterated recently in Suo Moto Writ Petition, the court deemed it appropriate to grant interim bail to the petitioner.
The court while granting the bail imposed certain conditions on the petitioner:
Firstly the petitioner shall not leave the place of the jurisdictional police station where the alleged offences are registered.
Secondly, the petitioner shall surrender his passport to the concerned Magistrate forthwith.
Thirdly, the petitioner shall participate in the investigation and co-operate with the Investigating Agency.
Lastly, such other terms and conditions which may be imposed by the trial court.
Click Here To Read Original Order / Judgement
