CBI has arrested a teacher who won the National Good Writer Award.
The CBI has accused him of complicity in filing income tax returns and cheating many others in the matter of refunds.
Ramachandran, a middle school teacher from Keezambal Panchayat Union Primary School in Paramakudi Taluk Pokalur Union of Ramanathapuram District, became famous for coming to school wearing a uniform like the students every day and buying mobile phones for the students at his own expense.
It was also said that the students who studied with him called him ‘Mama, Sithappa, Periappa, Machan, Mappillai’.
As the hairdressing salons were closed during the Corona lockdown, the teacher Ramachandran went directly to the students’ homes and gave haircuts to the students.
He was awarded the National Good Teacher Award on the basis that he directly visited the student’s residential area during the Corona period and taught. He received the award from President Draupadi Murmu in Delhi on Teachers’ Day last September 5.
What is the case?
His brother Panchacharam runs a company called Tax Information Network in Madurai and Ramanathapuram. It has been alleged that many people have been given back excessive amounts of money through this company while filing their returns to the Income Tax Department.
It is also stated in the allegation that 2 crore 84 lakhs were illegally returned to the customers and several lakhs of rupees were received as commission. The CBI registered a case against Panchacharam in 2021 and arrested him in 2022 based on a complaint filed by the Income Tax Department. He later came out on bail.
In this case, his brother Panchacharam had sent Rs 12 lakh to Ramachandran from his bank account a few months ago.
An investigation was being conducted in Madurai from time to time in this regard for the past 10 days.
In this case, Ramachandran, who appeared for the investigation, did not properly answer the questions and did not hand over the relevant documents for 12 lakhs credited to the bank account, the officials registered a case against him and arrested him on Friday.
The CBI registered a case against him under Sections 120(B) and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, alleging complicity in filing of income tax returns. He is currently in judicial custody in Madurai Jail.
Nomination for return of Good Writer Award
Subsequently, the District Education Officer (Primary School) decided to take disciplinary action against him and ordered Ramachandran to be temporarily suspended.
Ramanathapuram District Principal Education Officer said that the Tamil Nadu government has also sent a recommendation letter to Ramachandran to withdraw the National Good Writer award given by the central government.
BBC Tamil on Social Media: