A man was sentenced to one year imprisonment in Telangana for allegedly stealing a grand total of five sarees. The Supreme Court came down heavily on Telangana government by indirectly drawing a parallel with that of liquor baron Vijay Mallya.
Though the chief justice JS Khehar did not name Mallya but his remarks made it amply clear who he was hinting at. Justice Khehar said that people looting crores of rupees were “enjoying life” but a man was in jail for allegedly stealing five sarees.
The top court, which was considering a plea filed by the wife of CH Eliah who has been in custody for one year without any trial. How, the Chief Justice questioned, could Telangana take a man into preventive custody for stealing sarees?
During the hearing, counsel representing the state argued that the arrest was made after many traders in Hyderabad had complained about a gang of saree thieves operating there, which had made it essential for the police to make the arrest.
The court has listed the matter for further hearing on March 8.
A warrant is out for the liquor tycoon Mallya to face trial in India for charges of conspiracy and fraud over the loans of Rs 9,000 crores he owes to various banks.
Mallya had recently said that he was “safe in UK” and New Delhi had no grounds to extradite him.