CHENNAI: THE Madras High Court has quashed the first information report against SRM group chairman T R Pachamuthu for allegedly cheating MBBS aspirants after collecting huge sums from them.
The court quashed the cheating case since all complainants had submitted that they were willing to withdraw their complaints as they had been paid back the money collected from them.
Pachamuthu was arrested last year after parents of nearly 136 students lodged complaints that the persons connected with SRM group of educational institutions collected a total of `85 crore on promise of MBBS seats, but failed to keep their word. Pachamuthu approached the court to get the case quashed, pleading that the students had agreed to withdraw the complaints since he had settled money to them.
Taking into account the willingness of complainants to withdraw the case, the court ordered quashing of the FIR.
The court ruled that the remaining 11 persons, who formed part of the 136 claimants and whose claims were not adjudicated by the Court Commissioner, were granted liberty to approach the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police,Central Crime Branch-II, Greater Chennai Police, Vepery, for further probe into their alleged payments.
“Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central CrimeBranch-II, Greater Chennai Police, Vepery, shall inform the date of disbursement to claimants within a week from the date of receipt of this order after consulting with Court Commissioner,”said Justice Ramesh.
Total recall
2016
Aug 26: Police arrest SRM Med College and University’s Pachamuthu in relation with cheating complaints by people who paid humongous sums for med seats to film producer Madan. D74.39 crore allegedly collected from 111 complainants
Aug 30: Pachamuthu tells HC he is prepared to remit `69 crore, the amount allegedly collected from aspiring students, to get bail
Sept 8: Conditional bail granted; court directs Pachamuthu to deposit D75 cr, surrender passport
Sept 26: Court rejects his plea to relax stiff bail terms
Oct 24: Madan goes underground; Pachamuthu says habeas corpus petition filed by Madhan’s family is not maintainable
2017
June 30: Enforcement Directorate provisionally attaches D6.5 crore worth immovable property of Madan
Aug 3: Pachamuthu lodges complaint against film financier Mukandchand Bothra and his for allegedly trying to extort money and issuing defamatory statements against him
Aug 4: HC slams ED for invoking Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Madan, says it was trying in a distorted fashion to exonerate Pachamuthu
Sept 7: Number of complainants balloons to 136; HC allows them to claim their respective amounts from D85 crore deposited by Pachamuthu in trial court
Sept 23: SC asks HC to quash criminal proceedings against him if 136 claimants get back their money
Oct 30: HC quashes FIR against Pachamuthu