Chennai,Sep 9 A designated CBI Court today acquitted former Chennai Port Trust Chairman M Kalaivanan charged with abuse of his official position in allotment of a berth of the Dr Ambedkar dock here, allegedly resulting in a loss of over Rs 1.38 crore to the exchequer.
Principal Special Judge for CBI cases Mohammad Essath Ali also acquitted five others, including three officials of the CPT, holding that the prosecution had failed to establish its case against all the accused beyond all reasonable doubt.
According to the CBI, the accused had entered into a criminal conspiracy between September 1994 and April 1995 to commit criminal misconduct and cheat the CPT with regard to grant of a berth at the dock.
CBI contended that a traffic manager of the CPT Dhikpathy (accused number two) initiated a proposal to allow Messrs X-Press Container Lines to avail of 200 metres long berthing space under the private participation scheme for loading containers.
Kalaivanan had approved the proposal which violated the guidelines issued by the Union Surface Transport Ministry stipulating that there should be open bidding under the scheme
Representatives of the firm were the others absolved.
- Agencies
Sep 10, 2009
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