HC issues notices to Centre,Delhi govt in Rajan Pillai case

Appearing for Pillai,senior advocates C Aryama Sundaram and Manali Singhal submitted before the bench that the earlier verdict was “bad in law” as far as computation of the quantum of compensation was concerned. It had failed to take into account the parameters laid down by the apex court,and did not take into account the fact that the authorities were unequivocally held accountable for lapses leading to Rajan’s death,they added.

They said 16 years had lapsed since the death of Pillai’s husband in custody,and a compensation of Rs 10 lakh was inadequate. The money,the petition maintained,would be spent for the purpose of betterment of the girl child in Delhi as well as Tihar Jail.

In May,Justice S Muralidhar had directed the Delhi government and Tihar authorities to pay Nina Pillai Rs 10 lakh within four weeks,along with Rs 20,000 as litigation cost. He had also asked the government to implement the recommendations of the panel,which probed Pillai’s death in custody.

Pillai,whose takeover of Britannia Industries earned him ‘biscuit baron’ title,was arrested in the Capital on July 3,1995,for an alleged corporate offence committed in Singapore. He had died in police custody on July 7,1995.

In her petition,Nina Pillai claimed that her husband was a “sad victim of brutality,torture,atrocity,insensitivity,recklessness and negligence” of the state.