The search for former minister KT Rajendra Bhalaji in two job-related fraud cases is proving to be a challenge for the Tamil Nadu Police. More than a fortnight after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court rejected the anticipatory bail plea of the AIADMK leader, six special police teams have failed to trace him. The government job aspirants have to cheat after the Virudhunagar district crime branch collected 1.6 crores out of the complaints lodged against them.
There are not many in the AIADMK to shed tears for Mr. Bhalaji, although publicly the party has called the police action an act of political vendetta by the DMK government. Because, rural politicians are the second child of controversy. He had not only alienated the local party functionaries with his aggression, but also put the leadership to great embarrassment by taking an outspoken Hindu and pro-BJP stand as a minister. For the 2019 parliamentary elections, he announced, “[Prime Minister] Modi our [AIADMK] Daddy, India’s daddy!” This did not go down well with activists who saw former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa leading the party to a historic electoral success in 2014, with an epic remark: “Who is a better administrator – Gujarat’s Modi Or this lady from Tamil Nadu?”
Once caught on audio for threatening to eliminate an opponent and later justifying him, and on video with a party man, Mr. Bhalaji has never been publicly known. He called for biting actor-politician Kamal Haasan’s tongue when he described Nathuram Godse as “free India’s first Hindu extremist”. As minister, he went on record as saying that “no one can stop Hindu terrorism” if his support for “Islamic terrorism” continues. Shri Bhalaji had directed the then Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami by saying that the killing of a BJP functionary in Tamil Nadu had a “religious angle”, while the police rejected such motives. During the ‘Janata Curfew’, he tweeted: “What is happening in the country is a lesson for those fake crusades who made fun of Hindu religious practices and beliefs…” After an uproar, he deleted it.
Against this background, the failure of the police to arrest him is doubtful and critics question whether the politician managed to remain kidnapped because of his proximity to the BJP. However, Mr. Bhalaji’s sister and lawyer have approached the High Court alleging harassment by the police. Among some former AIADMK ministers who lost in the 2021 assembly elections, Mr Bhalaji is also facing a revived probe by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
It is inevitable that AIADMK will support Shri Bhalaji as the MK Stalin government has opened fire on many former ministers. The DVAC has registered a case against five former ministers, including two trusted lieutenants of Mr. Palaniswami. More are likely to come under attack. Former Social Welfare Minister V. Saroja is facing a case of cheating from job aspirants. Mani, one of Mr Palaniswami’s personal assistants, has also been arrested for duping people.
Therefore, the party leadership was unable to allow Shri Bhalaji to defend itself. An AIADMK delegation recently met Governor RN Ravi alleging that the police was harassing its office bearers. The party has sought to hit back at the DMK over a question whether the government will arrest Power Minister V. Senthil Balaji, a political turncoat, for duping candidates seeking jobs as transport minister in the Jayalalithaa government. Were facing such a case.
Despite the political game, the Tamil Nadu Police, which prides itself on being on par with the Scotland Yard Police, has finished its job in arresting Mr. Bhalaji.
Sureshkumar.d@thehindu.co.in
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