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Dh1 million bail posted in UAE for Kerala politician’s release

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Thushar Vellapally, Vellapally Natesan, Indian politician, cheque caseKerala

Dubai - A LuLu Group spokesperson confirmed that they helped in facilitating his release.

Published: Fri 23 Aug 2019, 12:09 PM

Updated: Sat 24 Aug 2019, 10:18 AM

  • By
  • Anjana Sankar

A Dh1 million bail was posted to secure the release of Thushar Vellappally, a key ally of ruling Indian political party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Thursday. The politician was arrested late on Wednesday. Two passports were also deposited at an Ajman court for his bail.

Speaking to Khaleej Times from his hotel room in Dubai after his release from the Ajman jail, Thushar — the Kerala chief of the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) — said his friends and well-wishers raised the amount.

“The main person behind my release is Yusuffali chettan (brother),” said Thushar, referring to Indian businessman Yusuf Ali MA, chairman and managing director of LuLu Group International.

How Thushar Vellappally got arrested

Detailing the events that led to his arrest from a Dubai hotel on Wednesday, politician Thushar Vellappally said a woman had been calling him while he was in Kerala regarding the sale of his property in Dubai.

He claimed he agreed to meet her because she said there was a local buyer who was interested.

“I came to Dubai on Wednesday at 1.30pm. I agreed to meet her that evening at the Shangri La Hotel in Dubai. When I went in and sat on the sofa, immediately two policemen came in and said ‘you have to come with us’.”

Thushar said he was treated well while in custody.
A LuLu Group spokesperson confirmed that they helped in facilitating his release. “All politicians from Kerala and even at the national level got involved. Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala Chief Minister, sent a letter to the Indian central government, who also took positive measures. Everybody knows about my track record. I am not a cheater.”

Speaking about his bail conditions, Thushar said he cannot leave the UAE as he has to “clear a civil case”.

Thushar, who contested against the then Congress President Rahul Gandhi, was arrested in Dubai in connection with a Dh9 million dud cheque case filed by Nazil Abdullah. The complainant claimed he had worked as a subcontractor for Thushar’s now-defunct Boeing Construction Company LLC based in Ajman.

Thushar, who is the son of prominent Kerala politician Vellappally Natesan, claimed that the case against him was “completely fabricated”. “He (the complainant) thought I — being a politician — would get afraid and pay up if something like this was put on my head. Even when my friends called, he said he was doing this for money,” he claimed.

When asked whether he had issued the Dh9 million cheque to the complainant, Thushar said: “Not at all. The cheque is some 12 years old. My company was closed 12 or 14 years ago. I had settled all the amounts that I owed, including to the complainant. He was a Dh600,000 subcontractor for me and I had paid him that money, too.

“I have full faith in the UAE’s judicial system. I am sure the UAE government will stand with the truth. I am confident I can clear the case and go home as soon as possible,” said Thushar.

The complainant, Abdullah, could not be reached for a comment at Press time.

anjana@khaleejtimes.com



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