HC asks police to probe fraud committed on a subordinate court

The Madras High Court today asked Tiruvannamalai police to register a case and probe a serious fraud committed on a subordinate court.
The matter relates to two lands in Tiruvannamalai town which were sold without the knowledge of the land owner and then registered with the help of the court orders passed without the landowner being party to it.
Justice S Nagamuthu, passing orders on a criminal petition filed by Vanitha Jayapaul, said "the offence is heinous. People of this country repose enormous faith in the judiciary. Any document bearing the seal of the court is taken as a true document and the contents as gospel truth. It is shocking that the court has been taken for a ride by the accused."

Vanihta had purchased two pieces of land in Tiruvannamalai town in 1995 and 1996. Before going to the US in 1999, she gave the documents to her friend Bret Carlson. She returned many years later.
However, this year she found out that the lands had been sold to a Trust by forging her signature and getting an exparte order from a civil court.
A junior lawyer, who represented Vanitha in the civil court without authorisation, said he did so after instructions from his senior.

When Justice Nagamuthu probed into the matter further, the Trust, run by a senior advocate Raaman Lal, said they had purchased without knowing the fraud behind it. He then offered to execute a relinquishment deed surrendering the land to Vanitha.

Justice Nagamuthu, pointing out that a serious fraud had been committed in the civil court, asked Tiruvanamalai police to immediately register an FIR, without including the two advocates as accused and conduct a thorough probe to track the real culprits behind the fraud.
The property shall be entrusted with Vanitha and the Trust shall bear expenses relating to relinquishment proceedings, he said.