The Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Kallakuruchi sentenced a former Sheristadar Assistant of the court to 37 years for misappropriating court funds meant for Motor Accident Claims (MCOP) cases, forging judicial signatures and tampering with court records.

The case came to light following an inspection conducted by Sureshkumar, then Principal Subordinate Judge, Kallakurichi, pursuant to the directions of the Madras High Court in a suo motu writ petition in 2021. During the inspection of records relating to MCOP cases disposed of in 2012 and 2014, certain signatures of Sub Judges and the Sheristadar appeared suspicious.

Verification of the records revealed that compensation amounts had allegedly been disbursed to persons unconnected with the respective cases. Based on the complaint of the Principal Subordinate Judge, the CB-CID, Villupuram, registered a case on December 18, 2021, under various sections of the IPC relating to criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, conspiracy, and falsification of accounts.

During the investigation, Arivuselvi (A1), who had served as a Sheristadar Assistant in the court between 2012 and 2015, was arrested and questioned. Investigators found that she had allegedly reused case numbers of Motor Accident Claims cases that had already been settled and closed, diverted court funds and transferred the money to the bank accounts of her son Varadharajan (A2), and associates Tamilarasan (A3) and Senthilkumar (A4).

The investigation further revealed that Arivuselvi allegedly tampered with court records and forged the signatures of Sub Judges on court cheques to conceal the fraud.

While an initial misappropriation of ₹28 lakh had been detected, further scrutiny of the records revealed another ₹10 lakh had allegedly been misappropriated. The relevant documents were seized and sent for forensic examination. The forensic expert confirmed that the disputed signatures and alterations in the records were made by Arivuselvi, according to CB-CID.

The agency examined 61 witnesses and collected and marked 133 documents as evidence. After completing the investigation, the CB-CID filed the final report before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Kallakurichi, on July 23, 2024.

Following the trial, the court convicted Arivuselvi, Varadharajan and Tamilarasan, holding that the prosecution had established their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Senthilkumar was acquitted as the offence against him was not proved beyond reasonable doubt.

Arivuselvi was sentenced to a total of 37 years’ imprisonment and fined ₹30,000.  Varadharajan and Tamilarasan were each sentenced to a total of 27 years’ imprisonment and fined ₹17,000.

The CB-CID said the conviction was secured following a detailed investigation and effective presentation of evidence during the trial.