Douglas Devananda says charges against him in Madras High Court will be dropped Monday

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 June 2010, 16:55 GMT]
Sri Lankan Minister Douglas Devananda, just returned after his visit to India with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, told media Friday that the charges against him filed in Tamil Nadu Courts will be dropped when they will be taken up for hearing in the Mandras High Court Monday. He said this in a press meet held through phone at Srithar theatre in Jaffna. According to The Times of India, Tamil Nadu lawyer P. Pugalenthi, the secretary of Tamil Nadu Peoples Rights Forum, a pro-Eezham Tamil body, had filed a petition that action should be taken against Mr. Devananda since the VIth Additional Sessions Judge in June 1994 had issued a proclamation warrant treating him as an 'absconding accused' in the case relating to the killing of a city resident in 1986.

When the petition came up for hearing Friday, Chief Justice M. Y. Eqbal and Justice T. S. Sivagnanam posted it for further hearing on Monday June 14, the report further said.

Jaffna media reporters who were invited to the press conference were surprised to hear Minister Douglas Devananda foretelling the judgment on his case.

The report further said that charges had been framed against Douglas Devananda on January 20, 1987, for various offences under Indian Penal Code (IPC), including murder and Indian Arms Act.

It is alleged that Douglas Devananda had shot and killed Krishnarajah, a Tamil Nadu citizen on 10 November 1986 and injured four men in Choo’laimeadu in Chennai.

A complaint has also been filed with Keezhpaakkam police in Chennai against Douglas Devananda, accusing him for abducting a boy for a ransom of 0.7 million Indian rupees on 10 November in 1988.

Douglas Devananda who had been arrested in the above case had managed to escape from remand prison.

Minister Douglas Devananda explained to the media Friday that as he is not presently living in India the inquiry into the charges against him is inappropriate and hence the Chief Justice of Madras High Court will dismiss them Monday.

The Minister also informed the media that he has invited the Tamil Nadu MPs of DMK and Congress party to visit North in Sri Lanka and see the present situation.

The minister used the occasion to inform about the financial aid that is to be given by India for the rehabilitation of Jaffna people as well as about the agreements signed in India.

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