SC defers Tiran Alles case to 5 Oct. for want of proper Bench

Thursday, 29 September 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By S.S.Selvanayagam

As the Bench is not properly constituted, the Supreme Court yesterday (28) deferred to be mentioned on 5 October the fundamental rights petition filed by Tiran Alles seeking to prevent his arrest.

The Bench comprised Justices Anil Goonereratne and Prasanna Jayawardane.

Petitioner Tiran Alles in his petition seeks for the Court to issue an Interim Order preventing his arrest as he was an owner of a newspaper company and a close associate of the former President.

He cited the IGP, Director of the Special Investigation Unit SP Mewan Silva, OIC of the SIU M.D.D.P.Gunathilake, Police Media spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekera and the Attorney General as Respondents.

Romesh de Silva PC with Sugath Caldera appeared for the petitioner. Additional Solicitor General Yashantha Kodagoda appeared for the State. The petitioner states that Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka leveled various allegations against him stating that he was responsible for the defection of former JHU stalwart Udaya Gammanpila causing a split in the JHU.

He states he was the non executive Chairman of RADA since 2002 and the institution was placed under the Nation Building Ministry in 2007.

He states he was not involved in any of the projects carried out by the institution until it was taken over by the Nation Building Ministry while adding that the Auditor General or the COPE never raised questions over RADA.

He complains the Police Special Investigations Unit had taken action against him due to political influence of a certain Minister and the Police went on to impound his passport without even recording a statement from him.

He alleges the government was taking revenge from its political opponents and as a result he too faces the risk of being arrested.

Petitioner Tiran Alles in his petition seeks the Court to issue an Interim Order preventing his arrest as he was an owner of a newspaper company and a close associate of the former President.

He cited the IGP, Director of the Special Investigation Unit SP Mewan Silva, OIC of the SIU M.D.D.P.Gunathilake, Police Media spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekera and the Attorney General as respondents.

He complains the Police Special Investigations Unit had taken action against him due to political influence of certain Minister and the Police went on to impound his passport without even recording a statement from him.

He alleges the government was taking revenge from its political opponents and as a result he too faces the risk of being arrested.