Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Court allows Sasikala’s plea

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Wednesday allowed a petition by N. Sasikala seeking to call for the records connected with a complaint praying to punish her under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act for alleged non-appearance in response to summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate, and quash the same.

In his order quashing the proceedings on the file of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Economic Offences-I, Egmore, Justice K.N. Basha said the court was of the considered view that allowing the proceedings to continue against the petitioner would amount to abuse of the process of law.

In the petition filed by counsel A. Navaneethakrishnan and L.P. Shanmugasundaram, the petitioner submitted that the complaint was wholly misconceived and ill-motivated.

She was issued summons requiring her attendance on May 10 and 20, 1996. She sent replies citing health reasons for her inability to appear on the dates. She was asked to appear on May 30, for which also a reply was sent citing valid reasons.

Following further summons, she appeared before the respondent on June 20, 1996 and gave a statement. Thus, it could be seen that she had not remained mute but had answered all summons the department had issued and it should be presumed that they had accepted her explanation.

When she had answered the summons, the question of her being prosecuted for non-appearance could not arise at all.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Travel and tourism fair
Students’ cell inaugurated
Book covers 150 species of animals on IIT-Madras campus
First focus of The Hindu Initiative on Wellness, the heart
Economic growth, social development must go hand in hand: Rangarajan
“Foreign trade policy has failed to promote inclusive growth”
1,225 licences cancelled for drunken driving
State to strictly enforce ban on smoking
Court allows Sasikala’s plea
“U.S. financial collapse won’t hurt India”
Antony’s assurance
Residents caught unawares as showers lash city
Special programmes for children
Flexi-payment options from Tata Teleservices
Corporation school students set off on rewarding tour
Students stage protest, seek better facilities
Inter-collegiate quiz today
Association rift comes to the fore
“Make use of brigade patrol vehicles”
Perungudi holds mirror up to reality realty check
Website on ‘99999’ campaign launched
Road widening project to be over soon
Three held for attacking bar employee
Compensation awarded
Power shutdown
Public hearing on October 5
“Politicians must be trained in security matters”
Muslims going through difficult times, says Kanimozhi
“Private colleges drive IT growth”
In Chennai Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu