The Madras High Court has directed the
Coimbatore police commissioner to investigate and take punitive action against
some of the top industrialists and educationists in the city for allegedly
consuming alcohol in a public place in violation of prohibitory orders.
The petitioner A. V. Karthikeyan, partner at
M/s Velumani Engineering Industry, has alleged that Vidyasagar Ramadas of
Mahindra Engineering Works, L. Gopalakrishnan, managing trustee of PSG Group of
Institutions, his brother L. Devaraj, textile mill owner and close relative of
Pricol MD, V Rajendran of V. R Foundry and a few others consumed alcohol at the
Cosmopolitan Club here on September 30, 2010 even though the government had
issued prohibitory orders in view of the Ayodhya verdict.
“The men opened bottles of champagne brought
by L. Gopalakrishan and L. Devaraj and had a toast and served to a few other
members to celebrate the victory of V. Rajendran for the president’s post in
the club,” Karthikeyan said in his complaint to the police. When the police did
not act, he filed a RTI petition seeking the status of his complaint, to which
the police replied saying they had “strictly warned” the accused persons.
“The offence is cognizable under section 2(c)
of the Crl. P.C and in such cases, it is mandatory on the part of the
respondents (police) to register the complaint under Section 154 of the Cr. P.C
and proceed further,” Mr Karthikeyan said in his petition filed in the
Madras high court in 2012.
In a direction dated July 17, 2013, Justice Ms
K. B. K. Vasuki asked the Coimbatore commissioner of police to “hold
appropriate enquiry on the petitioner’s complaint dated 5.10.2010 and either to
register a case, if the allegations made therein disclose commission of any
cognizable offence, investigate the same and file final report, or dispose of
the same in any other manner known to law, as expeditiously as possible.”
Speaking to this newspaper, commissioner
A.K. Viswanathan said the police was yet to receive a copy of the court order.
“However, it is a serious offence and if it is found to be true, we will
proceed as per law,” he said.
When contacted, Nandakumar,
representative of PSG management said, “The whole petition is motivated to
tarnish image of PSG managing trustee. There is no truth in the complaint and a
full fledged police inquiry was conducted at the time of the incident.”
if it was a false complaint why not you file a complaint against the man?why no actrion from accused side.justice for all.Police to act quickly.Delay leads to suspision.Drinking in club is common it should not have been brought to High court level.
ReplyDeleteIt was an article filed based on a directive by the Madras High Court. The PEW police are investigating the case and I am told that it is proceeding as per law. As for the genuineness of the complaint, it is for the courts to decide. We have merely reported the development considering the involvement of important people in the city. Thanks
ReplyDelete@ Pradeep What is the status of this case now? can u give the updated information.I want to know whether law is same for common man and top industrialists /educationists.In Coimbatore Even school girl is consuming alchol and shouting in bad words in public places recently. Educationists taking alcohol will guide their institutional students to do so.No moral values ?
ReplyDelete