Tuesday, 11 February 2014 00:01
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A Sessions Court in Chennai has acquitted three Sri Lankan Tamils and ten others on charges of hoarding communication gadgets and medicines with the aim of supplying them to the LTTE in 2009.
Judge S. Senthil Kumaresan observed that the Q-Branch CID police, which investigated the case, had failed to prove the charges framed against the accused, who included Kannan, a London-based Sri Lankan Tamil.
A total of 25 persons, including ten LTTE cadres, were chargesheeted in the case initially. However, the case was split up and the trial was taken up in respect of ten persons of Tamil Nadu and three Sri Lankan Tamils.
According to the prosecution, on 31 December, 2008 and 1 January, 2009, four of the accused entered the country illegally by a boat. Kannan later sent a laptop and washing machine, 25 satellite phones, five communication receivers, cellphones and a night vision rifle telescope, which were kept concealed in Tharamani.
Similarly, they had planned to send medicines to the LTTE, which was then involved in a fierce battle with the Sri Lankan defence forces, and purchased them in Bangalore.
A case was registered against them under IPC and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Indian Wireless Telegraphic Act and the trial was proceeding in the Sessions court in Chennai.
