Medical admission scam: Is ED trying to save Pachamuthu, asks HC
TNN | Aug 5, 2017, 12:20 AM IST
Chennai: Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is a sledgehammer, and use it against sharks and not shrimps, said Justice PN Prakash of Madras high court, hinting that Enforcement Directorate (ED) was trying in a 'distorted fashion to exonerate' SRM group chairman TR Pachamuthu, but implicate his former aide Madhan in the multi-crore medical admission scam.
"While the case registered by the police is so specific that Pachamuthu shared the common intention and used Madhan for collection of capitation fee, the ED has projected a different picture as if Madhan had collected the money from 133 parents and had not given the same to Pachamuthu, but, has purchased four properties in his name," said Justice Prakash.
The ED has built up this case on the strength of Pachamuthu's statement that he had not asked Madhan to collect money nor was the money given to him (Pachamuthu), the judge said, adding: "It is quite strange as to how ED could have expected Pachamuthu to be so guile to confess to them, 'Yes, Yes! I only asked Madhan to collect money and he has handed over it to me'. He would have given such a confession only if he had credulously believed that the ED officer is also a priest of a Catholic church to whom confessions can be made for a ticket to heaven, albeit the fact that such a confession would land him up in jail in this life."
Noting that the court has observed yet another 'disquieting feature' in the probe, Justice Prakash said, "the ED has recorded the statements of 7 parents out of 133 who are said to have paid money for admission for their wards. The statements of the 7 show as if they had handed over the money to Madhan and there is no reference of Pachamuthu. But all the 7 have given separate written complaints to the police implicating Pachamuthu in the racket."
Pointing out that apart from the 7 parents, about 50 others have also implicated Pachamuthu in their complaints, the judge wondered whom the ED is wanting to save?
Observing that Madhan is not the solitary player in this sordid episode, Justice Prakash said there were prima facie materials to show that a well-oiled syndicate had existed, by which, affluent parents who were over-ambitious in wanting to make doctors of dull heads, were directed by the SRM University management to contact Madhan.
The judge made all the observations while granting conditional bail to Madhan who was arrested by the ED in connection with the case. Before parting, the court made it clear that it has inclined to grant bail to Madhan not because he is an angel, but, because the evidence produced by the ED does not pass muster the parameters the PMLA for denial of bail.
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