The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Fresh probe sought into former MLA's disappearance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 25, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Fresh probe sought into former MLA's disappearance

Special Correspondent

Son alleges police officers had a role in kidnapping M.K. Balan Manimaran alleged the force and law officers conspired to shield real accused from prosecution

CHENNAI: A writ petition seeking fresh investigation into the disappearance of former AIADMK MLA M.K. Balan has been filed in the Madras High Court.

The petitioner, Balan's son B. Manimaran, said there was reason to believe that a person close to the AIADMK Government and some police officers were involved in the kidnapping of his father. A suspended Deputy Inspector-General of Police also had a role.

Balan, who had gone for a walk in MRC Nagar here on December 30, 2001, failed to return home.

Police claim

Pursuant to a habeas corpus petition filed by Mr. Manimaran, the police told the court that Mr. Balan was kidnapped by a gang and murdered. The gang members later cremated his body.

Mr. Manimaran termed the police version "fictitious" and alleged that the force and law officers had conspired to shield the real accused from prosecution.

He said administration of criminal justice should be beyond "whimsical official wills."

Mr. Manimaran said police and law officers had desperately tried to prevent the matter from being handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Referring to the conviction of over dozen persons by a Fast Track Court here, he said, "The entire prosecution story appears to be false and the entire exercise was done in such a way to screen the real offenders."

Mr. Manimaran said he did not file a similar writ petition earlier due to the "prevailing atmosphere."

He prayed for a direction to the Home Secretary to order fresh investigation into the case and to bring the real culprits to the book.

The case will be heard on Tuesday.

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