Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Hunt on to nab kingpin of forged court orders racket

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Special teams of the Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department (CB CID) have fanned out to neighbouring States in search of a Sri Lankan Tamil who, the police claim, is the brain behind a racket forging court orders for securing prisoners' release.

A vigorous hunt is on to nab Rajan, who will provide vital information regarding the racket, a senior CB CID official said.

His involvement came to light when the police interrogated one Lingeswaran in connection with the case. Lingeswaran's body was later found near a pond at Patravakkam, on the city's outskirts. The police maintained that he had been let off after questioning and had committed suicide.

The CB CID said Lingeswaran had been convicted in a murder case registered by the Ambattur police and was lodged in Cuddalore prison. He managed to get released by producing an order from the Supreme Court, which was later found to be bogus.

Rajan was also a life convict and had come out on parole when, it is alleged, he became part of the racket.

The special unit was investigating instances of two prisoners who had secured their release from the Cuddalore prison by producing bogus release orders. Both were arrested again, the official said.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu