Madras high court orders his release, modifies the life sentence to one of the period undergone
Orthopaedic surgeon Dr L. Prakash, serving a life term for engaging in erotica business, will be a free bird now after Madras High Court ordered his release
Chennai: Orthopaedic surgeon Dr L. Prakash, serving a life term for engaging in erotica business, will be a free bird now. While confirming his guilt, the Madras high court ordered his release, modifying the life sentence to one of the period already undergone. Prakash, infamously known as the sex doctor, was arrested in December 2001 for shooting nude and obscene photos of his women patients through hidden cameras and posting these online.
In 2008, the additional sessions judge (Fast Track Court -V), Chennai found Dr Prakash and his associates guilty in the pornography racket case. Prakash was sentenced to undergo seven years of rigorous imprisonment for offences under the IPC, Information Technology Act, 2000, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 and the Arms Act, 1959. All the sentences were to run concurrently. He was directed to pay a fine of more than Rs 1 lakh. During his detention, he wrote several books.
While allowing the appeal petition partly, a division bench comprising Justices S. Tamilvanan and C.T. Selvam said that Prakash had already undergone more than 13 years and 3 months of the sentences. Accordingly, the conviction imposed on Prakash by the sessions court was confirmed. However, the sentence of imprisonment was modified to one of the period already undergone. The bench also directed him to pay the fine of Rs.1,19,000 in eight weeks. He shall be released from prison after the payment of the fine, unless his presence is required in connection with any other case.
I am free and acquitted: Prakash
Dr L. Prakash who has spend over 13 years for uploading pornography on the Internet, said that he was a free man and happy about being acquitted of the charges framed against him by the police. After so many years, internet pornography has come to stay in the virtual world with lakhs of websites feeding customers across the globe, and Dr Prakash, a well-known ortho specialist, believes that he, 15 years ago, was ahead of time.
“I have not yet decided about the future. Of course, I will treat patients, but not regularly. I will attend some surgeries, continue to write books and work on painting and sculpturing,” Dr Prakash said while talking to this newspaper immediately after his release.
Dr Prakash, 50, also noted that the court had modified his sentence and acquitted him upon payment of Rs 1.19 lakh. He was remanded in jail from December 23, 2001 and released after various trial courts and appeal courts acquitted him of all offences, says the certificate issued from the office of the superintendent of prison, Central prison, Puzhal.
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