Hindi documents cause courtroom delay in MP police's case against TN pharma owner
The Madhya Pradesh Police's special investigation team (SIT) arrested 75-year-old Ranganathan, the owner of Srisan Pharma, from his residence in Ashok Nagar in the early hours of Tuesday
MP police team travelled to Tamil Nadu by a police vehicle
CHENNAI: The legal proceedings for the transit remand of G Ranganathan, the owner of the pharmaceutical unit who was arrested in connection with the deaths of 22 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, were delayed in a Chennai court on Thursday, as all the case documents were in Hindi.
The Madhya Pradesh Police's special investigation team (SIT) arrested 75-year-old Ranganathan, the owner of Srisan Pharma, from his residence in Ashok Nagar in the early hours of Tuesday. The arrest came after a cough syrup manufactured by his company was alleged to have led to the death of 22 children due to the presence of a banned toxic chemical.
After arresting Ranganathan and conducting searches at his Kancheepuram facility, the SIT produced him before the Saidapet court. However, the proceedings hit a hurdle when his lawyers raised objections to the fact that all the case documents submitted by the MP police were in Hindi.
Advocates insisted that the documents should be translated into English for the court to proceed. This forced the investigating officers to scramble, working with a few local lawyers to hastily translate the crucial paperwork before the court could take up the transit remand plea.
The language barrier caused a procedural delay of several hours. During this time, the accused, Ranganathan, was taken to the Saidapet Government Hospital for a mandatory medical examination. He was later produced before the court again with the translated documents.
The MP police have now moved a petition in the court, seeking a special transit warrant to take Ranganathan to Madhya Pradesh for further investigation.
However, sources said, there still are logistical hurdles. It is learnt that the MP police team travelled to Tamil Nadu by a police vehicle. Authorities are now deliberating whether to take the accused on the approximately 1,700-kilometre journey back to Madhya Pradesh by road or to fly him from Chennai. A decision is expected soon.