Even as the CBI is yet to obtain a sanction to probe the corruption charges against Registrar of Companies (ROC) M. Manuneethi Cholan for more than a year since he was arrested, the Madras High Court has directed that the investigation be completed and a final report be submitted within November.
Allowing a criminal original petition filed by the Indian Corporate Law Service officer, Justice A. Selvam directed that the Anti Corruption Bureau of the CBI to complete investigation and file a final report after getting proper sanction before the end of November.
Mr. Cholan was arrested by the CBI in August last year for allegedly receiving Rs. 10 lakh from M.A.M. Ramaswamy, chairman of the Chettinad Group of Companies, to declare an expected takeover of the group at its annual general body meeting null and void.
CBI officials had also seized incriminating documents and cash to the tune of Rs. 20 lakh. The officer was let out on bail.
During the hearing of the plea filed by the officer, who sought to direct the police to file a final report of the case, the Special Public Prosecutor appearing for the CBI contended that though investigation has been done, the matter was pending for want of sanction from authorities on the issue.
Justice A. Selvam directed the CBI
to complete the investigation and file a final report
