The crime branch of Tamil Nadu police arrested former Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar, reportedly from his hideout in Kerala, for allegedly trying to grab land worth over Rs 100 crore belonging to a person from Kattur.
The Tamil Nadu CB-CID reportedly arrested the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader from a rented house in Peechi, Thrissur during the early hours of Thursday. Vijayabhaskar was arrested along with his aide Praveen from Kerala, police said.
The arrest comes after a Karur Court rejected the anticipatory bail plea of the former minister. According to police, Vijayabhaskar, along with his aides Sekar and Praveen, have allegedly forged revenue documents and attempted to grab land parcels worth over Rs 100 crore from M.Prakash, a businessman from Kattur. The Karur police have registered case against Vijayabhaskar and his aides for kidnapping, criminal intimidation and assault.
According to police, the former minister was absconding for the past two weeks and 14 special teams were formed to arrest Vijayabhaskar.
Opposition leader and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami condemned the arrest and Vijayabhaskar would face the case legally. Palaniswami tweeted the DMK government arrested the former minister only to avenge the arrest of DMK leader Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case.