Madras HC issues notice to Center and Tamil Nadu government on petition against Sri Lankan Minister

The Madras High Court, the highest Court in the State of Tamil Nadu, ordered the Indian central and Tamil Nadu governments to respond to a petition filed against a Sri Lankan minister.

The petition, filed by advocate P. Pugalenthi calls for the arrest of Sri Lanka's Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development and leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) Douglas Devananda, a proclaimed offender under Indian law, on charges stemming from a 1986 murder case in Chennai.

Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam ordered notice to be sent to the central and Tamil Nadu governments giving one week's time to submit their replies, Indian news agency IANS reported.

Pugalenthi, Secretary of Tamil Nadu Peoples Rights Forum and the counsel of Nalini Sriharan, the convicted assassin of Rajiv Gandhi, says the 6th Additional Sessions Judge in June 1994 had issued a proclamation warrant against Douglas Devananda, treating him as an 'absconding accused' in the case relating to the killing of a city resident in 1986.

Devananda, who accompanied the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on a state visit to India last week, earlier said that he is not aware of being declared as a proclaimed offender but ready to face any legal proceedings if brought against him.