Date:07/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/07/stories/2007060706390500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Premkumar moves court seeking reinstatement

Special Correspondent

"The case arose out of private complaint and not from any FIR"

CHENNAI: Dismissed Superintendent of Police, K. Premkumar, has moved the Madras High Court challenging the May 21 order removing him from service.

In his writ petition, Mr. Premkumar said his conviction and sentence awarded by the court was minimal, attracting penal provisions of some non-cognizable and bailable offences. The case arose out of a private complaint and not out of any first information report.

According to Mr. Premkumar the impugned order was passed at the instance of a senior police officer in the CB-CID, who was "inimically disposed" towards him. Mr. Premkumar said he was in charge of the investigation into the Amaravathy bridge scandal. The present Chief Minister was the first accused in the case, which involved another Minister and the Home Secretary.

"Bias"

"The dismissal of the petitioner is the result of this bias and mala fides and, consequently, the impugned order is liable to be set aside," he said. The haste with which the Government acted would also show the mala fides.

He sought a stay on the operation of the impugned order of dismissal, and reinstatement with seniority in service and back wages.