Douglas has to face trial: Prosecution

Sri Lankan minister Douglas Devananda was involved in a murder case and hence, had to face trial, Aminjikarai police said in its counter affidavit filed before the IV Additional Sessions Judge on Wednesday. The counter was filed by Additional City Public Prosecutor M Prabavathi, in response to Douglas’s petition seeking to have the non-bailable warrant against him recalled.

The Lankan minister had also sought for permission to appear before the court through video-conferencing and not in person. In this petition, he did allude to the murder charge against him. According to the prosecution, a group of EPRLF (Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front) cadre, including Douglas, opened fire indiscriminately on November 1, 1986 in MM Colony, killing one person. As the minister had failed to appear before the court and had left India, a non-bailable warrant was issued against him on June 18, 1990.

Prabavathi submitted that Douglas had not come to the court with clean hands, as he suppressed the fact that he was involved in a murder case. The Indo-Sri Lankan pact had nothing to do with the crime. He, being a constitutional authority, should abide by law and cooperate with the trial, she said. Judge S Rajagopalan adjourned the matter till September 29.