Former BBMP councillor V. Nagaraj, who is on the run after the recovery of demonetised currency amounting to ₹14.8 crore from his house, approached a court seeking anticipatory bail.
Nagaraj, in his bail plea, expressed ignorance about the cash and claimed that he is not involved in any illegal activity. "The police are trying to malign my name based on a complaint filed by someone accused in an illegal currency exchange racket.”
City-based realtor Umesh had filed a complaint on April 7 in Hennur police station alleging that he had been abducted and taken to Nagaraj’s house and released only after he handed over ₹50 lakh. On April 14, the police went to Nagaraj's house and seized the demonetised currency.
Nagaraj’s sons, Shastry and Gandhi, who were allegedly involved in the racket, are also on the run.
Earlier on April 2, Umesh had been arrested by the Central Crime Branch (CCB), along with 13 others, including Praveen Kumar, the son-in-law of former Member of Legislative Council Veeranna Mathikatti. According to the police, he was trying to exchange ₹9.1 crore in demonetised currency for valid currency. He was later released on bail.
"If he has been granted anticipatory bail, we will file an objection plea in court to not grant bail to Nagaraj," a senior police officer said.
