More skeletons tumble out of Dinakarans closet

Karnataka High Court judge P D Dinakaran and his wife Dr K M Vinodhini have evaded stamp duty and violated Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority norms by building a five-storeyed office in the city despite getting approval only for four floors plus the stilt, the Forum for Judicial Accountability has alleged. In a representation to the Chief Justice of India, the forum, highlighting the “amassing of huge assets, corruption and serious irregularities”, stated that the CMDA had turned a blind eye to the additional floor on the plot in Shenoy Nagar. “The fifth floor is wholly illegal, yet the CMDA has on inspection issued a Completion Certificate,” said forum convenor R Vaigai in the representation. The property located on East Park Road was ‘‘jointly purchased’’ by Justice Dinakaran and his wife in 1990. Continued on,The Encumbrance Certificate shows the couple purchased property worth 3,236 sq ft for Rs 5.5 lakh and subsequently, on December 10, 2001, Dinakaran’s share was settled in his wife’s name, the representation stated. “On July 15, 2002, his wife made a second purchase of property worth 2,688 square feet. Since, the second purchase was undervalued proceedings under section 47A (1) of the Indian Registeration Act was taken and finally a stamp duty of Rs 1.49 lakh was paid. As per government guideline value of Rs 1,069 per square feet, the cost was Rs 28.73 lakh,” says Vaigai, noting “there is a clear stamp duty evaluation of Rs.27.24 lakh.” The couple and Dinakaran’s mother-in-law have also purchased a property at Anna Nagar worth Rs 90.50 lakh, the representation stated. The allotment of three housing plots from Tamil Nadu Housing Board near IT Corridor to Vinodhini and two daughters of Dinakaran - Amudha and Amritha -- have been made in violation of many eligibility conditions prescribed by Tamil Nadu Housing Board. The plots were allotted by the TNHB at Sholingnallur Village Neighbourhood Scheme Phase III, Tambaram Circle, Kancheepuram District, the representation said. Initially, the plots for the daughters were applied for first in the names of James Kuppusamy, father-in-law of Justice Dinakaran and M G Paripoornam, his mother-in-law, the representation said. “The father-in-law and mother-in-law of Justice Dinakaran in their applications to the Housing Board have stated they were not assessed to income tax and their annual income was only Rs 56,668 and Rs 49,200 respectively. Thus they were not even eligible for allotment under the High Income Group for plots,” Vaigai said. “Separately, three joint applications were made subsequently for allotment. These include V Sarala (relationship not known), P Vimala (sister of Justice Dinakaran), and J Williams (brother-in-law). The joint applicants subsequently withdrew on the same date. Finally, the high-income group plots are allotted to James, Paripoornam and Vinodhini for 6.9 lakh, 5.15 lakh and 5.15 lakh, which is gross undervaluation. Within two days of the sale the property is transferred in the name of Dinakaran’s daughters by the in-laws. The value of the property is shown as Rs 8.59 lakh. Within two days the value shoots up by Rs 3.5 lakh, which is the real value,” said Vaigai. “The acquisition of properties by Justice Dinakaran’s wife and children reveal a clear pattern. Properties are initially purchased in the name of aged parents-in-law and subsequently “settled” in the name of his wife and daughters. For instance, the 30 per cent share in house site in Anna Nagar purchased by Paripooranam was settled later to her daughter in less than year. The remaining 70 per cent share was bought jointly by Justice dinakaran and his wife,” she said. A similar pattern is also evident in the Housing Board allotments, she added. All these properties, the value of which runs into crores of rupees, besides the huge properties at Kaverirajapuram village is beyond the means of any High Court Judge, sources said.