Granite scam: Ex-collector confronts magistrate’s charge

Madurai: A month after the judicial magistrate, Melur, K V Mahendra Boopathy directed that a complaint be filed against Anshul Mishra, former Madurai collector and private secretary to the minister of state for finance, in granite scam-related cases, the latter has challenged the magistrate’s action in the Madurai bench of the Madras high court.
The magistrate failed to obey a Supreme Court ruling not to make adverse remarks against officers, Anshul Mishra said, adding that without providing him an opportunity to defend himself, the magistrate made unwarranted remarks against him.He said these remarks were liable to be struck down and added that he would be put to grave loss if the magistrate’s order was not stayed.
Anshul Mishra filed two complaints in July 2013 before the magistrate court, Melur, seeking custody of granite blocks stacked by two granite firms belonging to P Palanisa my and R Sahadevan in government lands in Melur without the state’s permission and seeking action against the two persons.
The magistrate on March 29 last passed an order acquitting the duo and directing the head clerk of the JM court to file a complaint against Anshul Mishra and two special public prosecutors (SPP). He observed that Anshul Mishra filed complaints as collector, though he was by then transferred from Madurai. Thus, he committed offences of making false statement on oath, furnishing false information and false statement in declaration.
Within two days of the order, the Madras high court ordered a judicial probe over the magistrate’s action and it ended with his suspension on April 1.