Kerala half-price scam: Ananda Kumar faces imminent arrest as court denies anticipatory bail

Thiruvananthapuram: KN Ananda Kumar, chairman of the National NGO Confederation, has been taken into custody in connection with  half-price scheme fraud. The Crime Branch took Kumar into custody from his residence after the Thiruvananthapuram Principal Sessions Court on Monday rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a case registered by the Kannur City Police. However, following Kumar's claim that he was undergoing treatment, he was transferred to a hospital for a medical examination.

While arguing his anticipatory bail plea, Kumar, who is also the founder and executive director of the Sri Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust, claimed he had no involvement in the half-price scheme scam. He claimed that the money was directed to the trust and he had not taken any amount personally.

However, the police contended that Kumar had prior knowledge of the scheme.

It may be noted that his anticipatory bail plea was adjourned four times due to the police's failure to submit a report. The court took up the plea today after the report was finally submitted.

Several cases and complaints are also pending against him in Thiruvananthapuram. The Crime Branch has yet to decide which case will warrant the first arrest. The Ernakulam Central Crime Branch, led by SP J. Sojan, has formed a special investigation team to probe the half-price fraud case. A decision on which case will lead to the arrest will be made after discussions with the investigating officer.