Granite scam: Melur magistrate K V Mahendraboopathy suspended

Madurai: The Madras high court on Friday suspended Melur judicial magistrate  K. V. Mahendraboopathy based on an inquiry report submitted by two judges.  The magistrate had acquitted PRP Exports proprietors P. R. Palanisamy and his son Senthil Kumar in the illegal granite mining case.

According to sources in the registry, Mahendraboopathy was already facing charges. Pursuant to the departmental inquiry, he was placed under suspension. The order was served on him Friday morning.  Madurai Fast Track Court-II Judge Bharathiraja has taken charge in his place.

On March 24, the high court Madurai Bench recommended contempt and disciplinary action against Mahendraboopathy for disobeying its order in the illegal mining cases. Within five days, the judge acquitted the granite barons stating there were irregularities in the petition filed by government pleader.

In his verdict, Mahendraboopathy observed that even after the then district Collector Anshul Mishra was transferred from Madurai, the public prosecutor had filed petition on behalf of Collector seeking to take action against the granite barons for allegedly stocking granite stones in patta lands in violation of Tamil Nadu Prevention of Illegal Mining and Transportation and storage of minerals and mineral dealers rule 2011.

He also justified the procedure followed by him in handling the cases even after  Justice P. N. Prakash in his order clearly pointed out that the magistrate had taken cognisance of offence only under 379 IPC while the charge sheet had been filed against the granite barons for various charges.

The Keelavalavu police filed a final report in the illegal mining case charging 23 accused under various sections of IPC. Mahendraboopathy had also kept pending 98 similar chargesheets submitted by police in the illegal mining case.
Based on high court directive, on Thursday the two judges conducted inquiry with  Mahendraboopathy for nearly three hours and submitted a report.