Tiran Alles seeks that SC prevent his arrest: Matter referred to CJ for mention on 10 Oct.

By S.S.Selvanayagam

 The Supreme Court yesterday referred to the Chief Justice to mention on 10 October  the fundamental rights petition filed by Tiran Alles seeking to prevent his arrest.

He alleges the government was taking revenge from its political opponents and as a result he too faces the risk of being arrested as he was an owner of a newspaper company and a close associate of the former President. He appealed to the Court to issue an Interim Order preventing his arrest.  

 Citing the Inspector General of Police, the Director of the Special Investigation Unit SP Mewan Silva, the OIC of the SIU M.D.D.P.Gunathilake, Police Media spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekera and the Attorney General as respondents, he claimed the Police Special Investigations Unit had taken action against him due to political influence of a certain Minister. Alles also claimed that the Police went on to impound his passport without even recording a statement from him. 

According to him as a non executive Chairman of RADA since 2002, he was not involved in any of the projects carried out by the institution until it was taken over by the Nation Building Ministry in 2007; he added that the Auditor General or the COPE never raised questions over the RADA. 

 Romesh de Silva PC with Sugath Caldera appeared for the petitioner. Additional Solicitor General Yashantha Kodagoda appeared for the State.

 Alles in his petition states that Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka leveled various allegations against him stating that he was responsible for defection of former JHU stalwart Udaya Gammanpila, causing a split in the JHU.

  The Bench comprised Justices Eva Wanasundera, Upali Abeyratne and Prasanna S.Jayawardane.