Chennai: The Madras high court has ordered distribution of Rs 85 crore to 136 aspiring medical students, allegedly cheated by SRM University chairman and Indhiya Janayanaka Katchi leader T. R. Pachamuthu and his erstwhile aide S. Madhan of Vendhar Movies. On direction from the court, Pachamuthu earlier deposited Rs 85 crore before the XI Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet.
According to Pachamuthu, he had not received any money from Madhan and that it was Madhan who had cheated various persons aspiring for medical seats. However, Madhan claimed that he was innocent and he was a representative of the SRM College for various admissions at SRM University and that T.R. Pachamuthu was the main accused and used his name as a scapegoat. Blaming each other for the liabilities, the duo filed petitions to quash the FIR registered against them. Refusing to quash the FIR against them Justice M. S. Ramesh has directed the Central Crime Branch (CCB) to continue the investigation and file a final report within eight weeks.
The judge has appointed former Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir high court N. Paul Vasanthakumar as commissioner for disbursing the amounts to the claimants as ascertained by him.
The matter relates to complaints lodged 136 parents and students who had paid over Rs 85 crore to Madhan and his associate Sudhir for MBBS, MS and MD admissions in SRM educational institutions. On May 29, 2016, Madhan absconded, leaving behind a suicide note. Pachamuthu was arrested and released on bail after he deposited Rs 75 crore. Madhan was arrested from a hideout in Tirupur. The high court permitted Pachamuthu to provide a bank guarantee for Rs10 crore in addition to Rs 75 crore he had already deposited into the account of XI metropolitan magistrate court, Chennai.
The judge said the commissioner can determine the amount due to each of the 136 claimants based on satisfactory receipts and it will be open to the commissioner to fix the date, time and venue for such disbursement.
