Criminal proceedings against Pondy Minister quashed

Chennai, Apr 28 (UNI) Madras High Court today quashed the entire criminal proceedings against Puducherry Health Minister E Valsaraj in a case involving misappropriation of funds from the Mahe Cooperative Centre for Information Techonology Ltd.

Allowing a petition filed by the Minister, Justice M Jayapal observed that the court found that the complainant had lodged a police complaint against the petitioner without any legal basis.

The investigation revealed that the transaction clinched by the petitioner on behalf of the Centre, for which he was the Honorary President, was real. No corrupt practices were adopted or misappropriation committed by the petitioner in the case. Hence, it was not just to continue the criminal prosecution against the petitioner in the case, the judge ruled.

In his petition, Mr Valsaraj prayed for quashing the case and submitted that one Sudhakaran had preferred the complaint, alleging that he had misappropriated Rs 85,46,000 of the said Society by paying far less consideration to the vendors than that shown in sale deeds.

UNI XR GD AM GC2000