Chennai: Sridhar Dhanapalan, the much wanted criminal in Kancheepuram district who allegedly committed suicide in Cambodia last week, will now get a decent burial as the Union government has assured the Madras high court that it will issue necessary travel documents to bring the mortal remains of Sridhar from Cambodia to India.
Recording the same, Justice M.S.Ramesh disposed of the petition filed by Sridhar’s daughter Dhanalakshmi. In his order, the judge said that it was now brought to his notice that the Cambodia immigration department had assured to give an exit permit to bring the mortal remains of the late Sridhar to India. Assistant solicitor general Su. Srinivasan also submitted that the ministry of external affairs does not have any objection in executing the necessary travel documents for the purpose.
“Since the deceased died on October 4, it would be appropriate that the exercise of issuing travel documents and bringing the mortal remains to India is completed in at least 24 hours,” the judge added. In her petition, Dhanalakshmi submitted that her father, an Indian citizen, had several cases were pending against him and was also declared an absconding accused. On October 4, her brother called her to say that their father’s cook had informed him that their father was admitted to a hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in a critical condition. When they rushed to Cambodia, they found their father dead. The hospital authorities issued a death certificate stating that he had died due to cardiac arrest.
As he was not in possession of a valid passport, this being impounded by the Enforcement Directorate, they approached the Indian high commission in Cambodia to help them to bring his body to India. But the officials said they could process their request only if the Kancheepuram police and collector give a positive communication for the transfer since most cases pending against him originate from the district. When they gave a written request to officials, they did not respond. Therefore, she filed the present petition.
