CHENNAI: The Madras High Court dismissed the anticipatory bail plea moved by V Mohanraj, IAS, deputy secretary, Transport Department and another person who were facing a probe for cheating a city-based doctor of `50 lakh after promising to get an MBBS seat for his daughter.
Doctor M A Nizar Ahammad of Nungambakkam moved the High Court submitting that Mohanraj and S Selva Kumar of Padi, whom he knew for the past two years, had promised to get an MBBS seat in a reputed private medical college in the city for his daughter in the academic year 2014-15.
The doctor said he paid `50 lakh towards capitation fee to the two but neither did they get the seat nor return the money. Following repeated requests, Selva Kumar issued two cheques for `25 lakh each in March 2014. But the cheques were dishonoured. Ahammad lodged a complaint with the Central Crime Branch (CCB) on May 8, 2014.
Based on the complaint, the court directed the inspector attached to CCB, Vepery to register an FIR on the complaint through its order on March 27. The FIR was registered by the CCB police against the two.
Subsequently, the accused persons moved anticipatory bail petitions fearing arrest. When the matter came up for hearing on April 30, they agreed to deposit `25 lakh in the court and to furnish security for the balance.
In view of the submission, the court directed the two to fulfil their submission before June 6. But when the petitions came up for hearing on June 2, the counsel for the petitioners submitted that they had not deposited the sum.
The petitioners had instead filed a special leave petition against the directive of the court dated April 30 before the Supreme Court, the counsel added.
Opposing the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioners, the government advocate contended that the court, through its order dated April 30, directed the two to deposit `25 lakh only based on the voluntary submission of the petitioners. But instead of depositing the money, they moved the Supreme Court.
Recording the submission of both the parties, Justice R Subbiah said, "I am of the opinion that it is not a fit case to grant anticipatory bail, since the investigation is in the initial stage" and dismissed the anticipatory bail petition.
