The Madras High Court has ruled that a medical graduate cannot receive her degree certificates because her tuition fees were allegedly paid using money extorted for the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan issued the judgment on June 17. The court dismissed an appeal by Puja Kumari, upholding a previous decision that allows the Chettinad Academy of Research and Education in Chennai to withhold her MBBS certificates. The college took this action after the National Investigation Agency froze Kumari’s tuition payments, which totaled Rs 1.13 crore.
The court stated that the situation involves national security and the seizure of criminal assets under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Justices noted that the seized tuition funds are directly traceable to extortion money. The ruling emphasized that even though the graduate is not accused of a crime, she is not entitled to benefit from criminal proceeds.
Origins Of The Investigation
The financial dispute stems from a 2021 case launched by the National Investigation Agency in Ranchi. Investigators allege a conspiracy to revive the Maoist group in Jharkhand and Bihar by extorting contractors and influential individuals to purchase weapons.
The agency identified the graduate’s brother, Tarun Kumar, and her uncle, Pradyuman Sharma, as key figures in the extortion ring. Authorities arrested Kumar in 2022, accusing him of writing and distributing letters on behalf of the banned organization to collect the funds that were later used for his sister’s medical education.
Defense Arguments And Trial Status
During the proceedings, Kumari argued that she is not a suspect and that educational certificates cannot legally be held as security for unpaid fees.
Ujjwal K Priyadarshi, the lawyer representing both the graduate and her brother, stated that the seized money was strictly spent on educational fees rather than militant activities. The attorney noted that the trial court will ultimately determine if the money legally qualifies as terrorism proceeds. The lawyer also highlighted that the certificate seizure has prevented Kumari from advancing to postgraduate medical studies.
Meanwhile, criminal proceedings against Kumar are ongoing. After multiple courts denied his previous requests for release, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the investigative agency on Tuesday regarding his latest bail application.
