This Article is From Apr 10, 2012

Land purchase case:Court quashes proceedings against Stalin

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Monday quashed proceedings against former Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister MK Stalin, his son Udainidhi and four others in connection with a case relating to alleged purchase of 6000 sq ft of land "forcibly" for Rs 5.54 crore, following a submission by the complainant that the matter had been amicably settled.

Justice T Mathivanan allowed the petition by one Venugopal Reddy, the first accused, seeking to quash the proceedings against them, taking into consideration the submission by complainant N Seshadri Kumar that the dispute had been settled 'amicably at the instance of their friends and well wishers'.

"Since the complainant had expressed his willingness to withdraw his complaint against all the accused this court is of view that the inherent jurisdiction of this court conferred under section 482 Criminal Procedure Code can very well be pressed into service to quash criminal proceedings in the case," the judge said.

On November 11 last, the central crime branch of the state police had registered against them under various Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections for extortion, causing grievous hurt for extortion, trespassing, intimidation and criminal conspiracy.

Pioneer Builders Limited had purchased the property, with a super-structure on it measuring 4433 square feet at Teynampet from Kumar.

Udainidhi said he was occupying the premises as a tenant.

It was alleged that Reddy was just a benami. Justice Mathivanan pointed out that under an agreement between Kumar and Reddy, the latter had offered to sell back the property or as an alternative to pay the difference in the sale consideration.

According to Kumar, he chose the second option and agreed to an additional sum of Rs 1.75 crore.
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