COIMBATORE: One of the five Muslim men arrested by the City police on 22 July, 2006 after being falsely accused of planning terror attacks here, has sent a petition to the Chief Minister’s Cell, demanding criminal proceedings against a top police officer for foisting a false case on them.
The petitioner, A Haroon Basha from Kurichi Pirivu, Podanur, has also demanded compensation from the government and government jobs for him and his brother, as the case damaged their reputations. Basha has sought prosecution of the then Assistant Commissioner of Police (Intelligence Section), Rathinasabapathy, who is now a member of the TNPSC. He wants charges to be framed under IPC Sections 194 (giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence), 195 (giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of offence punishable with imprisonment for life) and 196 (using evidence known to be false) and to withdraw promotions and benefits granted to him.
The five men, including Basha and his brother Malik, were arrested in 2006 by a special police team led by Rathinasabapathy for allegedly plotting terror attacks.
After opposition from civil rights groups, the case was transferred to the CBCID police. A year later, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) issued the final report to the Judicial Magistrate Court VII, confirming that the police had fabricated the case. Basha has alleged Rathinasabapathy was behind the entire plot to frame the five men, as is clear from the SIT report.