HC quashes land grabbing case filed against Jegathrakshagan

CHENNAI: In a relief to DMK MP Jegathrakshagan, the Madras High Court on Friday quashed two cases booked against him on charges of grabbing 1.55 acres of land in Chromepet in the year 1996.

Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan passed the orders on disposing of petitions filed by Jegathrakshagan. The DMK leader wanted to quash the FIR filed by the CB-CID and summons issued to him in 2016.

The judge concluded after hearing the arguments of Jegathrakshagan saying that he has not acquired the land illegally. The complaint was politically motivated according to the Arakkonam MP.

Recording the submissions, the judge quashed the cases booked by CB-CID against Jegathrakshagan.

The history of the case dates back to 1982 when the then AIADMK government acquired the said land under Tamil Nadu Urban Land Ceiling, and Regulation Act.

The land was owned by Chrome Leather Company, of which Jegathrakshagan was a chairman.

In 1984, the former CM MGR laid the foundation stone on the land for developing the water resources. However, when Jegathrakshagan became an MP in 1996, it was alleged that he removed the foundation stone and asked the competent authority to allot the land to 41 people in Pallavaram who were his friends and employees.

In 2016, the Madras HC, on hearing PIL to recover the land, disposed of the matter with a direction to authorities to cancel the land pattas issued to several people in Pallavaram. The court further directed the CB-CID to book the case and launch a probe into the said allegations.

In 2019, CB-CID issued summons to probe Jagathrakshagan and which made the MP approach the court challenging the cases and summons.