Poovai Jagan Moorthy MLA on the run after bail rejection, TN police form spl teams to arrest him

CHENNAI: The Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) of the State police has formed special teams to trace absconding Puratchi Bharatham MLA “Poovai” M Jaganmoorthy in connection with the minor boy kidnapping case. The case was initially with the Tiruvalangadu police station in Tiruvallur district and was transferred to the CB-CID.

The CB-CID’s move comes after the Madras High Court rejected the legislator’s anticipatory bail petition on Friday. “Taking note of the nexus between the police, politicians and advocates for executing the heinous crime of abduction, the investigation has been transferred to CB-CID and is at a nascent stage. Unless and until the petitioner is secured and subjected to custodial interrogation, the truth behind the case will not come out. Furthermore, the petitioner's conduct so far clearly indicates that he is capable of interfering with the investigation at every stage. If he is not secured, the possibility of (the accused) threatening the complainant as well as the probable witnesses, destruction of evidence or tempering evidence is highly possible,” Justice G Jayachandran noted while dismissing his bail plea. Police sources stated that Jagan Moorthy is currently absconding, and special teams have been formed to locate him.

The sitting MLA and a serving ADGP, HM Jayaram, got into a tangle with the law enforcement for allegedly aiding the family of a Theni woman, who married a man from Tiruvallur against the wishes of her family. The family had come to Tiruvallur in search of the couple, but since they were not in the man’s house, they abducted the man’s 16-year-old brother, who was later let off.