Chennai: The XVII additional sessions court, Chennai, has acquitted A. Shankar alias ‘Savukku Shankar’, former special assistant in the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), from a case registered by Crime Branch CID, Cyber Crime Cell, alleging releasing of sensitive information from the DVAC.
He was accused of releasing the conversation between the then chief secretary to Tamil Nadu government and the then director, DVAC, Chennai, over registering a corruption case against AIADMK supreme J. Jayalalthaa relating to purchase of Kodanadu estate.
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The prosecution alleged that on April 1, 2008 and April 2, 2008, at the room of the legal advisor’s of DVAC, Chennai, Shankar is a special assistant of confidential section in office, without the permission unauthorisedly accessed into the computer system of legal advisor through his pen drive named “Sujatha” accessed the folder “Director’s back up 2” kept on the legal advisor’s computer without the permission of S.K. Upadhyay, the then chief secretary to Tamil Nadu Government and downloaded the audio file and caused its publication in the “Deccan Chronicle” on April 14, 2008, and also for the telecast on the same day on “Makkal TV” and “Jaya TV” at 08.00pm and 10.00pm.
“DC” had published the news item on the front page under the caption of “L.K. TRIPATHY’S PHONE TAPPED”. DC had published the transcript of the telephonic conversation between L.K. Tripathy, and S.K.Upadhyay, the then Director, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Chennai.
The prosecution alleged that Shankar caused the publication of the news item and thereby diminished the value of information, utility and affected it injudiciously, by means of securing access and downloaded the information, which was recorded and saved for the purpose of exclusive possession and use by S.K. Upadhyay.
The conversation was about registering a corruption case against AIADMK supreme J. Jayalalithaa regarding the purchase of Kodanadu estate. The DMK government formed a one-man judicial commission headed by Justice P. Shanmugam, who recommended for registration of a criminal case against A Shankar.
The CB-CID registered a case and filed charge sheet under sections 66, 70 and 72 of the Information Technology Act. He was arrested and detained at the prison. The prosecution examined 45 witnesses and cited more than 120 documents.
When the matter came up for hearing before judge, XVII additional sessions court S. Purushothaman on Friday, the judge said the prosecution failed to prove the charges and Shankar caused the publication and telecast of the news item. Hence, the judge has acquitted Shankar of all charges as there was no evidence against him.
