Alleged conspiracy to assassinate Maharajah Chairman untruthful - CID

COLOMBO: The Criminal Investigation Department which investigated the alleged conspiracy to assassinate Raja Mahendran, the Chairman of the Maharajah Group Limited informed the Chief Magistrate's Court, Colombo, last Friday (29), that the allegation was untruthful.

When the complaint relating to the incident was called before the Additional Magistrate Mohammed Irshadeen, the CID submitted to Court that according to their findings, the statement made by a prisoner named Ilangaratne to say that a conspiracy on the life of Raja Mahendran was launched in the Magazine Prison, Colombo, is baseless and made solely to obtain personal benefits and advantages.

The CID further submitted to Court that in the course of their investigations they found Ilangaratne's statements contained contradictions and therefore the CID could not proceed on investigations successfully. When they obtained a Court order to record a further statement from Ilangaratne, he intentionally evaded in defiance of the Court order. The Police informed Court that steps will be taken to prosecute Ilangaratne for making false complaints and for evading Court orders.

The CID further informed Court that investigations were initiated on a complaint made by T. Anil Chandrasiri de Silva, an Executive Director of Maharajah Group on January 5 and in the course of their investigations they found that the statement made by Ilangaratne, a prisoner in the Magazine Prison to say that the contract to assassinate Raja Mahendran was given by a former Army Major was also not acceptable. The Police told Court that Ilangaratne and the former Major came to know each other while both were serving sentences.

The Police told Court that further steps in respect of the prisoner will be taken on receiving instructions from the Attorney General. Police submitted to Court that according to their investigations, there is no truth in the statement made by Ilangaratne to say that a conspiracy was afoot to assassinate a person called Raja Mahendran and moved for a date to file further reports of investigations.

Having considered the facts before Court, the Magistrate ordered to call the case on March 7 for further reports.