CCB seeks 5-day custody

Chennai: The central crime branch (CCB) has approached a city court seeking five day custody of T.R. Pachamuthu, Chairman and managing director, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre and founder of India Jananayaka Katchi (IJK) party, a BJP ally in the state, detained in connection with alleged medical seat scam to the tune of Rs 72 crore.

When the bail petition filed by Pachamuthu came up for hearing before XI Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, Assistant public prosecutor (APP), S. Manual Arasu submitted the petition before the court seeking his custody for five days.

The APP submitted Pachamuthu was arrested on Friday and CCB team had no time to interrogate him soon after the arrest.

Hence, he sought police custody. Meanwhile, 15 students allegedly duped by Pachamuthu also filed a petition challenging Pachamuthu’s bail plea. According to R.C. Paul Kanagaraj, their counsel, Pachamuthu collected a total of Rs 72 crore from the students who wished to join medical courses in SRM Medical College.  

He collected the sum through mediators. Based on his direction, they paid the amount to head of Vendhar Movies, S. Madhan, who is missing for nearly three months. After collecting the money, the candidates were neither given seat nor their money was returned to them.

Similarly, R.S. Thangam, mother of Madhan, filed a similar petition. L. Infant Dinesh, counsel for Thangam, opposed the bail petition stating that Pachamuthu would destroy all evidence relating to the crime and Madhan’s life would be in danger if Pachamuthu was enlarged on bail.

The XI Metropolitan Magistrate, S. Prakash adjourned the petitions filed by Pachamuthu and Thangam to tomorrow. Three months after Madhan went missing, Pachamuthu, was arrested Friday last, after a marathon probe by CCB. His role was suspected in the mysterious disappearance of Madhan. After Madras high  court pulled up police for not making headway in the Madhan missing case, Pachamuthu was booked.