Swarna Shukla –
Published On: November 20, 2021 at 13:34 IST
The Madras High Court granted Bail to DMK Member of Parliament T R V S Ramesh, who was arrested last month in relation with the death of a 60 year-old employee in his cashew factory in September.
Ramesh, appearing for Cuddalore in the Lok Sabha, surrendered before a Local Court in the murder case probed by the CB-CID. Justice M Nirmal Kumar granted the relief while passing orders on a bail application from Ramesh.
Originally, a case was registered by Kadampuliyur Police against Ramesh. Later it was transferred to the CB-CID as he was believed to be the prime Accused. The charge of murder of an employee in his factory, Govindarasu (60), was also incorporated. He surrendered before a Judicial Magistrate in Panruti and was remanded to Judical Custody. He was also subjected to Custodial interrogation by Police.
Govindarasu, while returning home from work, was stopped and questioned by another employee regarding a theft at the cashew unit. The employee reportedly further Accused Govindarasu of stealing cashew nuts from the processing unit. Subsequently, five men and Ramesh Assaulted Govindarasu causing visible injuries on his face and neck. On September 20, Govindarasu was found dead.
The post-mortem was conducted in the presence of a team of doctors of JIPMER in Puducherry and the representatives of the complainant and properly documented.
All Preliminary Investigation steps were duly carried out already and under those circumstances, there was no legal or logical necessity for keeping him in Judicial Custody, he submitted. The employee committed suicide and his political opponents were attempting to project it as a case of homicide, he argued. As an MP, he has to discharge the democratic functions attached to his office, Ramesh said and claimed he was suffering from acute hypertension and diabetes.
The bail conditions are imposed in accordance with P.K. Shaji Vs State of Kerala [(2005) AIR SCW 5560], and include daily reporting before the police and non-tampering with the evidence or witness during the investigation.