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Absconding Puducherry Minister sacked
The Puducherry Transport and Education Minister PML Kalyanasundaram, charged with impersonation in SSLC public exam, was sacked by N Rangasamy Government on Saturday.
Kalyanasundaram has been absconding since the Tamil Nadu police had began a hunt for him since Tuesday. He was charged for engaging a proxy to write his SSLC examination at a centre in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu. The board examination was held on September 29.
The sacking of Kalyanasundaram was recommended to the Puducherry Lt Governor Iqbal Singh by the Union Territory Chief Minister N Rangasamy, the Secretary to the Lt Governor R Udipta Ray told the media. Singh, who is currently in Jalandhar, has been informed and Rangasamy’s letter would be forwarded to Union Home Ministry for necessary formalities.
The case against Kalyanasundaram was filed by the Villupuram District Crime Branch police following complaint from education authorities against the alleged impersonation. The Tindivanam Magistrate on Friday was forced to adjourn the case to November 25, after the absconding Minister did not appear before it.
Kalyanasundaram is a school dropout, who was inducted into the AINRC Cabinet on June 8, when the ministry was expanded. All India NR Congress is a newly formed party by Rangasamy, after breaking away from the Congress.
Following the charges against Kalyanasundaram, there was absolute silence from Rangasamy that had drawn criticism from the Opposition - Congress, AIADMK and the Communists. Criticism also poured in from various quarters, question how a person who has not even completed basic education like SSLC could be appointed as Education Minister.
Case was filed against Kalyanasundaram and a few others for allegedly engaging another person to write the SSLC supplementary examination on behalf of Kalyanasundaram on September 29. The case has been registered under Sections 419 and 420 (cheating), Sections 465, 466, 469, 471 and 473 (all related to various shades of forgery) and Section 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. Besides Kalyanasundarm, who is the first accused, the others include schoolteacher P. Adhavan and a section clerk in the office of the District Educational Officer (DEO). The complaint against them was filed by Chief Educational Officer (CEO) P. Karuppasamy.
The impersonation was proved by comparing the handwriting in the answer sheet as against the handwriting of Kalyanasundaram, who had to appear for two supplementary examinations on September 29 and 30. However, he did not appear for the second.
Last Tuesday, the anticipatory bail sought by Kalyanasundaram was rejected by the Madras High Court. A manhunt has been going for him for several days, with Tamil Nadu police seeking Puducherry police help. Police have fanned out all over Puducherry and every entry/exit point from Tamil Nadu is being checked. Two persons in Marakanam, a fishing village on the East Coast Road near Puducherry, were taken into custody on information that they had travelled with the Minister just before the police caught them on Tuesday. Kalyanasundaram is said to have switched his car at Alapakkam village, while the duo were caught.
After filing the complaint against Kalyanasundaram and few others last October, the police had moved the Tindivanam Magistrate on October 28. He was present in the Magistrate during hearing on November 2 and he was directed to appear before the court on November 11, for questioning which he did not.
