SUNIL JAYASIRI 
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TN adopts tough stand against Douglas
Adopting a tough stand against Douglas Devananda, a Sri Lankans minister facing a murder case in Chennai since 1986, the Tamil Nadu government has said he must come to court and face trial. Responding to the Lankans minister's offer to face trial through video-conferencing, the state represented by the Aminjikarai and Choolaimedu police station accused Douglas of attempting to win a favourable order in court by misrepresentation and deceit.
Doubting Douglas' claim that he was Anandan alias Douglas Devananda, the police counter filed by additional city public prosecutor M Prabhavathy, said: "The accused Anandan was arrested in the year 1986, now Douglas Devananda claims that he is the said Anandan who is holding a constitutional seat now."
Unless he presents himself before the court and is properly identified, there is every possibility of miscarriage of justice, the police said, adding that Douglas had not stated any valid reason as to what prevented him from appearing before the court all these years, Prabhavathy said.
Pointing out that Douglas had not mentioned the fact that he was facing murder charges as well, the counter said it was an attempt to make the court to believe that he faced only trivial charges, and thereby obtain anticipatory bail. It also pointed out that on December 8, 2010 the Madras high court had confirmed the order of a sessions court declaring him as a proclaimed offender on June 30, 1994. He last appeared in the court in March 1990 and since then absconding, it said. The judge has posted the matter to September 20 for further hearing.(The Times of India)
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