HC declines to quash cases against bizman Anbunathan

Madras High Court Bench here today refused to quash cases filed against Karur-based businessman C P Anbunathan for allegedly using a fake ambulance for carrying cash meant for voters during the assembly elections in May last year.
Justice P N Prakash, who refused to quash the cases as prayed by petitioner Anbunathan, directed the police to investigate and file the chargesheet within six months.
He also ordered the Income tax department to file a counter regarding the seizure of Rs 4.77 crore from the house of Anbunathan and adjourned the matter to April 19.
Cases were registered by the police on April 23 last for cheating, counterfeiting marks used by the government servant and for offences punishable under provisions of the Emblem and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1950.

Officials had also seized money counting machines and cash to the tune of Rs 10.33 lakh. Besides, the income tax officials found Rs 4.77 crore in his house.
Tahsildhar of Manmangalam A Ambayiranathan lodged a complaint with police seeking to register the case against Anbunathan for keeping unaccounted cash for bribing voters against the election rules.

Anbunathan sought to quash the case on the ground that the ambulance did not belong to him and the Income Tax officials found that he had paid the tax for Rs 4.77 crore and gave back the money.
He claimed the tahsildhar had no jurisdiction to file the complaint regarding the Income tax officers finding Rs 4.77 crore in his house.

There was no material to prove that the money seized from the ambulance belonged to him, he contended.
The election officials took drastic step including postponing the election following complaints about distribution of money in Aravakurichi Assembly constituency in Karur district and subsequently seized the ambulance carrying the money.