Latest news with #BPugalendhi
New Indian Express
31-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Police office staff gets no relief in POSH Act probe in Tamil Nadu
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has refused to quash disciplinary proceedings initiated against a section superintendent in Madurai District Police Office (DPO) in 2020 for allegedly sexually harassing two women colleagues. Justice B Pugalendhi passed the order recently while disposing of a petition filed by the section superintendent challenging the charge memo and the appointment of inquiry officer. The petitioner contended that according to the complainants, the alleged incident was said to have taken place in 2006 but the complaints were lodged only in 2019 and were therefore hit by limitation under section 9 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Justice Pugalendhi pointed out that one of the victims had stated in her complaint that the petitioner continuously harassed her since 2006 and thus, the complaint is not barred by limitation. He also observed that the petitioner's apprehensions regarding the inquiry officer were unwarranted.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Amend TNPID Act for quicker attachment of assets: HC
Madurai: Taking into account the delay in attaching properties of accused people in financial fraud cases, observed that the govt should take steps to amend the relevant provisions under Tamil Nadu Protection of Interests of Depositors (TNPID) Act, 1997. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The amendment would enable the investigating officer to file necessary applications directly before the special courts and ensure that properties identified by them are attached at the earliest and appropriated. Justice B Pugalendhi observed that the object of TNPID is to ensure that victims get back their money. Under the existing provisions of the Act, after an interim attachment by the govt, an application has to be filed before the concerned trial court to make it absolute, thereby causing inordinate delay. The judge said the district revenue officer (DRO), who is special officer under the Act, has to file necessary applications before the TNPID court to sell the properties. But, being burdened with other tasks, DROs are not paying any attention to their duty under provisions of TNPID Act, thereby resulting in inordinate delay in filing applications. "Considering the subsequent development of the enactments in the BNS, the govt shall take the initiative to amend the relevant provisions under the TNPID Act, enabling the investigating officer to file necessary applications directly before the special courts and to ensure that the properties identified by them are attached at the earliest and appropriated," the judge observed. The court was hearing the petition filed by S Athista Raj, seeking a direction to the Madurai EOW officials to complete the investigation in the case registered in 2017 and file the final report before the concerned court. Another petition was filed by V Ravichandran, seeking to transfer the case registered by EOW to any other investigating agency. The case of the prosecution is that the company named APSAL India Ltd., and other sister concerns, collected deposits from a large number of people to fund its business operations. The company assured that it would either return the matured amount with huge interest or allot a house site to the depositors. However, they cheated the depositors. Therefore, the case was registered by the Madurai EOW officials in 2017. The judge directed the Madurai EOW officials to conclude the investigation in the case as expeditiously as possible, preferably within six months.
New Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
'EOW must ensure scam victims get money back': Madurai Bench of Madras HC
MADURAI: Taking into account the delay in filing the final report by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in a financial fraud case booked in 2022, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court recently stated that the government has to evolve a mechanism to ensure that the grievances of the victims are addressed and the objectives of the Tamil Nadu Protection of Interests of Depositors (TNPID) Act, 1997, are achieved. Justice B Pugalendhi made the comment while hearing a petition filed by Hemalatha seeking direction to the Tiruchy EOW DSP to file the final report in a cheating case booked in 2022 against a firm for allegedly cheating the petitioner and several others with false promises of huge returns for their investment. The court stated that whoever be the victim, be it an MP or an IAS officer, they are expected to depend on the investigation agency i.e. the EOW in this context, for relief. But the delays occurred in this case as well as others raises questions on the purpose for which the prosecutions have been made. It is not known when the final report would be filed and when the trial will conclude. The government has to evolve a mechanism, the judge said. Noting that around 7,000 people have complained of losing crores of rupees to shell companies neither registered under the Companies Act nor having permit from the RBI for collection of deposits, the judge said, 'EOW is under the impression that they are supposed to act only after a case has been reported before them. They have to understand that they are also liable to prevent such offences and also to ensure that the amount cheated by the accused is appropriated and disbursed to the victims.'
New Indian Express
23-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Madras HC directs home secretary to ensure video conference facility is provided to law officers
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court restricted law officers from summoning investigation officers (IOs) to courts for every case hearing, observing that the latter were being made to spend most of their time in courts to appear in cases filed by the accused. The court further directed the state home department to set up video conferencing facility at the offices of the law officers at High Court and District Court level, so that the law officers could virtually verify the records submitted by the IOs, without requiring the latter's appearance in courts. Also, noting that the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) lacks manpower and vehicles, the court directed the state government to address said difficulties and advised IOs to refer and examine a limited number of witnesses during a trial. Justice B Pugalendhi gave the directions while disposing of petitions filed by the victims of two chit fund fraud cases registered by the EOW in Dindigul and Madurai. In the Dindigul case, Udhayam Chits company had allegedly cheated over 300 people of a total of Rs 10 crore, after collecting deposits promising higher returns. As the investigation is still pending, the victims moved the high court last year. The judge directed the IO to complete the investigation as expeditiously as possible. The other case pertained to PG Marketing and Agro Tech Company Ltd, and its sister concerns, which had allegedly committed a similar fraud. The case, registered in 2013, has been under trial since 2016, prompting the victims to approach the court. Since the trial judge informed that the court was unable to conduct further trial as the properties of the suspects have not yet been identified by the investigation agency, Justice Pugalendhi directed the latter to complete the proceedings and ensure that the trial attains its conclusion.
