The Madras High Court on Friday said three persons who alleged that M. Thambidurai, AIADMK MP, and his wife had indulged in land grabbing and related offences in Paruthipattu village in Tiruvallur district, could file fresh complaints before the jurisdictional police.
If the police received such complaints, they should take immediate action as per law and more particularly in the light of a Supreme Court judgment that the police were bound to register FIRs in cases where cognisable offences were made out.
Justice K.K. Sasidharan passed the order on writ petitions filed by Uma Prasad, P.G. Saleem and Uma Ravi. The petitioners said they purchased lands in the village which were surrounded by the property of Mr. Thambidurai and his wife, T. Banumathi. Mr. Thambidurai established the St. Peter’s Engineering College adjacent to the land purchased by them. His wife was its managing trustee. The petitioners alleged that the MP had been acquiring the surrounding lands for a meagre price by using manpower besides resorting to illegal means. He appeared to have purchased almost all the lands surrounding the institution. The petitioners said as they were not agreeable to sell their lands in view of the paltry sum offered, the two grabbed the pathway. The MP and his wife constructed a compound wall encircling the petitioners’ lands. The petitioners were not able to enter their property. They filed police complaints. The Inspector, Land Grabbing Cell, called the petitioners for enquiry. There was no follow-up action. When the petitions came up in August last year, the court ordered that since the two had agreed to give way to the petitioners, by executing necessary documents and produce the plan and affidavit before the court, it was adjourning the matter for further orders.
Mr. Justice Sasidharan said the petitioners had preferred police complaints. Their grievance was that their complaints were not entertained by police. The petitioners are at liberty to file fresh complaints, he said and disposed of the petitions.
