The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had set aside a trial court judgment and sentenced five persons to four-year rigorous imprisonment for cheating unemployed youth on the false promise of getting them employment in the Railway Protection Force.
The court was hearing the appeal preferred by the CBI (ACB), Chennai, against the judgement of the II Additional District Court for CBI Cases, Madurai. The trial court had acquitted the accused.
It was said that the six accused: G. Senthilkumar, G. Ayyanar, R. Kalidass, R. Thangam, R. Baskaran and J.M.C. Joyson along with one C. Raja, proprietor of a photocopying shop who turned approver, entered into a conspiracy to cheat unemployed youth on false promise of arranging employment in the Railway Protection Force in 2009. Baskaran and Joyson were RPF officials.
They had prepared fake application forms for various posts, index cards, identity cards, selection cards, permission pass, call letters, selection list, appointment orders and allotment of duty and demanded and accepted money from people.
Following a complaint, the CBI conducted an investigation and filed a final report before the trial court. Second accused Ayyanar died during the pendency of the trial. The accused were acquitted by the trial court in 2017. Challenging the same, the CBI (ACB), Chennai, filed the appeal.
Justice K.K. Ramakrishnan observed that corruption spreads its tentacles in all directions. Unemployed youth were easy prey to persons such as the accused who deceived them. They were in a disadvantageous position and in these circumstances they were exploited by the accused.
The court observed that therefore in these types of cases the trial court should have considered the evidence in a proper manner. But it failed to appreciate the same and gave the benefit of doubt which resulted in miscarriage of justice.
The court directed the Superintendent of Madurai Central Prison to grant leave till March 27 to Baskaran so that he could perform the 16th day ceremony of his deceased wife. He was directed to surrender before Madurai prison authorities on March 27. The CBI was directed to secure the others and produce them before the prison authorities to undergo the sentence.
Published – March 24, 2025 08:09 pm IST
