The Hindu : Former CJ acquitted of all corruption charges

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 18, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Former CJ acquitted of all corruption charges

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI APRIL 17. Twenty-six years after the registration of disproportionate wealth case against the former Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, K. Veeraswami, the Special Court for CBI Cases today acquitted him of all charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The crux of the prosecution charge was that during the check period between May 1969 and February 1976, he was in `possession of pecuniary resources and property disproportionate by about Rs. 6.41 lakhs to his known sources of income, and that he could not satisfactorily account for such disproportionate assets'.

The former Chief Justice had been charged with offences under Section 5(1)(e) read with Section 5 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and Section 13(1)(e) read with Section 13(2) of the Act.

However, citing that there was no evidence to show that Mr. Veeraswami had committed the alleged offence, the Special Judge, T. Ramasamy, said "after the careful consideration of the entire records, facts and circumstances, I have reached the conclusion that the prosecution has not established its case beyond all reasonable doubt".

The total assets, investments and expenses incurred by the accused come to about Rs. 5.79 lakhs, which `is far less than that of the total income of the accused', the judge stated.

The total income of the accused as per the charge sheet was Rs. 4,87,801.89, the order said, pointing out the same had been confirmed by the Investigation Officer as well. But the Special Public Prosecutor reduced it to Rs. 3,00,698.85. "This cannot be accepted for the reason that the prosecution is not fair, and deliberately omitted to bring in evidence so as to ensure that the income is even lesser than what is shown in the charge sheet", the judge said.

Though the case was filed in 1977, the trial commenced only in February 1997. Mr. Veeraswami was appointed judge of the Madras High Court in February 1960, and became Chief Justice of the Court in 1969. He retired in 1976.

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