Chennai: The Madras high court has dismissed the petition of Dharapuram businessman T.M. Ramalingam, who prayed for return of international bills of exchange worth Rs 26,000 crore, seized by the income-tax department in December last year. As the investigation relating to the case is not over, Justice K.K. Sasidharan dismissed the petition.
Petitioner Ramalingam contended that during a search operation, the I-T team seized several documents including bank documents. He wanted the I-T department to return the seized documents, including international bills that he was in possession of.
In the counter-affidavit, the director general of income-tax (investigation), Chennai, stated that the petitioner possessed five international bills of exchange, alleged to have been issued by the secretary of treasury, Alabama, USA. The value of the bills in Indian rupees is estimated to be Rs 26,000 crore. All these bills were fabricated.
China customs gold bonds seized from him were outdated and had no value. The proceedings are now pending and only after completing the assessment, the officials will be in a position to determine the tax liability of the businessman.
The seized documents would be returned to him after collecting the tax. Hence, the judge dismissed the petition.
Dharmapuri riot relief, rehab report submitted
The report on relief and rehabilitation measures undertaken among the riot-affected in Natham colony, Anna Nagar and Kondampatti villages, Dharmapuri district, was submitted in the Madras high court on Friday. The villages were affected by caste violence following a Vanniyar girl eloping with a dalit boy in November last year.
On behalf of the committee, the government pleader submitted the report before the third bench, comprising justices R. Banumathi and T.S. Sivagnanam. The committee was constituted following a court order on April 29 this year.
The committee, headed by senior IAS officer R. Vasuki, visited the villages and met the affected people personally and prepared a comprehensive report. The report comprises details of temporary relief and rehabilitation works and relief to be extended. It also proposed permanent measures to be undertaken in the villages.
The document included petitions and other materials collected by the committee, which will be displayed in the office of the government pleader.
The government plans green houses for 131 families, each at a cost of Rs 2.70 lakh. The petitioners, represented by counsel P. Rathinam, alleged that inferior quality construction material was being used and complained about the functioning of the tahsildar. The government pleader has sought time for response. The bench has posted the matter to July 5.
Cop takes government to court on promotion issue
The Madras high court has directed the state government not to promote police personnel without adhering to a verdict of a division bench on April 5 this year, pending disposal of a writ petition.
On a writ petition filed by S. Prabakaran, an inspector of the economic offences wing-II, Justice D. Hariparanthaman passed the order. The petitioner said he was promoted as inspector in April 2005 and awaiting promotion as deputy superintendent of police (DSP.)
Two months ago, the high court had settled the principle of seniority to be followed in respect of accelerated promotees and regular promotees. This would be contrary to the division bench judgment. Hence, the present petition for a direction to the government to publish a fresh seniority list as per the court judgment.
Ganja selling old woman to be released from prison
Setting aside a city civil court conviction, the Madras high court on Friday acquitted a 76-year-old woman arrested for possessing ganja. Justice T. Sudanthiram directed the superintendent of central prison, Puzhal, to release Krishnaveni of Shenoy Nagar, immediately.
In May this year, C. Chinnaiyan, judge, court for NDPS cases, awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment to the woman for selling ganja in Chennai on February 22, last year. The judge also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on her. But, the prosecution had not proved the case. Hence, the judge directed the prison to release the woman.
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