Supreme Court grants interim bail to former AIADMK minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted interim bail to former Tamil Nadu Minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) part for a period of four weeks in a government job scam case [KT Rajenthrabhalaji vs State through Inspector of Police]..The Bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli while granting bail, orally observed that while the Court has no tolerance for corruption, it will examine whether the arrest is to settle political scores."We have no tolerance for corrupt practices but are examining if there is any element of political vendetta," the Bench remarked.The Court, therefore, proceeded to grant the accused interim bail for four weeks in view of the guidelines for arrest laid down in Arnesh Kumar case."Taking into consideration all the above facts, and the guidelines and directions passed by this Court in Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar, (2014) 8 SCC 273, which were reiterated recently in Suo Moto Writ Petition (C) No.1/2020, we deem it appropriate to grant interim bail to the petitioner (Mr. KT Rajenthrabhalaji) for a period of four weeks from today," the Court ordered..Bhalaji was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police on January 5, 2022, in connection with a job scam just after he had moved the Supreme Court for anticipatory bail..Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave appearing for the petitioner, argued that the former minister was arrested and was taken 300 kilometers away and kept in Trichy jail which was not within the jurisdiction of the court where he was arrested. "No notice was served to him to appear for any investigation or inquiry. In addition to this, the offices of advocates who appeared for petitioners were raided," Dave submitted. .Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi who appeared for the State, termed the arrest "a by chance incident.""When his bail plea got dismissed, he has been absconding. How can an absconder move the Supreme Court and ask for relief? It is a matter of chance that he was picked up on January 5. It was just by chance," Rohatgi submitted. The Court, however, proceeded to grant him interim bail. Bail was granted subject to the following conditions: - The accused should not leave the place of the jurisdictional police station where the alleged offences are registered;- He should surrender his passport to the concerned Magistrate forthwith;- He should participate in the investigation and co-operate with the Investigating Agency;- He should comply with other terms and conditions which may be imposed by the trial court..[Read Order]