Anbumani free in toll plaza violence case

CHENNAI: The Madras high court on Monday quashed the FIR filed against PMK leader Anubumani Ramadoss after his party cadres allegedly vandalized a toll plaza in Villupuram district in August 2013. Discharging him from the case, Justice R S Ramanathan said neither the complainant in the case nor the two eyewitnesses cited by police confirmed Anbumani’s presence at the spot.
The case was based on a complaint filed by E Santhosh Kumar, a toll plaza employee, who said when Anbumani was passing through the toll plaza at Sengurichi on August 8, 2013, there was a quarrel between the cadres of PMK and people manning the toll booths. Ulundurpet police registered a case and booked Anbumani and seven others under relevant sections of the IPC and provisions of the Tamil Nadu Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) (TNPPDL) Act,1992. Police subsequently filed a chargesheet.
Anbumani moved the high court saying the case was “totally false and foisted against him”, and sought quashing of the FIR. He said he was implicated in the case for “political and extraneous reasons.” He also cited the statement of Santhosh Kumar, the complainant, who said police, at the time of registering the FIR, forced him to sign on a blank paper.
In his order, Justice Ramanathan said during investigation, police had examined Santhosh and two eyewitnesses, and none of them had mentioned that Anbumani was present in the car. “I am unable to accept the submission of the public prosecutor,” the judge said.
The judge underlined that according to the FIR, immediately after seeing the PMK leader in the car, Santhosh allowed it to cross the booth. Subsequently, a second vehicle stopped and a few people got down. They had an altercation with the toll plaza staff after which, one of them punched Santhosh in the face. They also damaged a computer at the toll plaza.
“Considering the statements of the complainant and eyewitnesses, no case is made out. No one stated that Anbumani Ramadoss was either present in the car or instigated others. Hence, implication of Anbumani Ramadoss is baseless and liable to be quashed,” said the judge, adding that “the proceedings on the file of the police are quashed so for as Anbumani Ramadoss alone.”
Welcoming the court order, Anbumani said it was a victory for honesty and truth. In a statement, he alleged that the case was politically motivated one.