The Kerala Retired High Court Judges’ Association has strongly criticised the action taken by Sub-Inspector T.A. Shahul Hameed of Perinthalmanna Police in Malappuram district against former High Court judge C.N. Ramachandran Nair in connection with the half-price scam.

The association has resolved to challenge what it calls a blatant violation of the law by Hameed, who registered a case against their member, Nair.

The scam, orchestrated by 28-year-old Anandhu Krishnan through an NGO, allegedly defrauded numerous victims across Kerala. Krishnan lured people by offering high-value products such as scooters, laptops, and sewing machines at half the market price, convincing many to invest their savings.

According to the association, Nair’s only reference in the First Information Statement was as a Patron of the NGO, which they claim is false.

"Even if all the allegations in the First Information Statement are taken as true, the same does not disclose any offence whatsoever against the former judge so as to rope him in as an accused in the case," the association stated.

The retired judges contended that the Sub-Inspector had abused his official position by implicating Nair without any legal basis.

“The conduct of the Sub-Inspector is attributable either to his ignorance of law or to some extraneous influence exerted by someone who has an axe to grind against the former Judge,” the association’s resolution stated.

“We, the members of the above Association, unanimously resolve to condemn in strong language the illegal and ill-motivated acts of the Sub-Inspector.”

They also announced plans to escalate the matter to the Home Secretary, the State Police Chief, the Advocate General of Kerala, and the Director General of Prosecution.

Main accused 
Krishnan is currently in judicial custody after being arrested by the Kerala Police. Last week, the state police chief transferred the investigation to the Crime Branch. So far, over 400 cases of cheating have been registered against him, with investigators examining multiple bank accounts linked to the fraud.

With IANS inputs