In a major setback to T.R. Pachamuthu of the SRM group of educational institutions, the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Chennai Central Crime Branch police to complete the investigation and file a final report within eight weeks in a cheating case registered against him last year on charges of not giving medical seats to about 136 students despite receiving over ₹85 crore from them through his accomplice Madhan.
Justice M.S.Ramesh also appointed N. Paul Vasanthakumar, former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, as a court- appointed commissioner to refund the money to the students by utilising ₹75 crore deposited by Mr. Pachamuthu before a Metropolitan Magistrate court at Saidapet here on September 8, 2016 for obtaining bail in the case. The judge pointed out that the accused had also furnished a bank guarantee for ₹10 crore.
Though Mr. Pachamuthu had approached the court to get the case quashed on the ground that the students had agreed to withdraw the complaint if he settles the amount to them, the judge refused to quash the case on the ground the alleged offences were “heinous and serious in nature and have a serious impact on the society.” The judge said that the students would have apparently agreed to withdraw the complaints in their desperation to get back the money.
“The amounts due to each of the claimants are huge and from the affidavits filed by most of them, it is seen that many had raised the funds by borrowing, pleading and mortgaging. Hence, it cannot be said that the claimants have voluntarily agreed to withdraw their complaints.”
