Thirukumar Nadesan arrested, granted bail

 Thirukumar Nadesan, a relative of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrested for his alleged involvement with a controversial 16-acre plot of land in Malwana, and produced before the Pugoda Magistrate’s Court was ordered to be released on bail yesterday.

Nadesan, the husband of former Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa, was ordered to be released on a cash bail of 50,000 with two sureties of one million rupees by Pugoda Magistrate D.A.Ruwan Pathirana.

The suspect was barred from leaving the country.

Nadesan was arrested yesterday after he arrived to make a statement to the FCID in connection with ongoing investigations into a 16-acre plot of land in Malwana.

The plot of land was believed to have belonged to former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, bought using public funds, but Rajapaksa denied ownership of the land earlier this month. Meanwhile, the FCID informed court that they have forwarded the investigation notes regarding the case for the Attorney General’s perusal.

The property had been purchased for Rs. 64 million by Nadesan. The suspect was arrested on the instructions of the Attorney General, the FCID said. President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty appearing for the suspect moved Court that his client be released on bail whatever bail condition the Court deems fit. He further denied allegations levelled against his client through police B reports.

However, the FCID did not raise objections for bail.

Further magisterial inquiry was fixed for January 10, 2107.

ASP Serasinghe with IP Samaranayake of the FCID prosecuted. On a previous occasion, Court issued an order to auction the land in question in the case filed against former Minister Basil Rajapaksa under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

It was alleged the land and the house on it, belonged to Rajapaksa, and that it was purchased using public funds.

However, at the last hearing, lawyers for the former Economic Development Minister told Court the land did not belong to their client.