HC raps authorities for branding French national mental patient

Madras High Court rebuked Tamil Nadu Police and the Kanniyakumari District Administration for coming under the grip of a psycho fever resulting in a French National being branded a mentally-retarded beggar leading him to be lodged in the Government Mental Hospital.Fear has gripped the city following reports of a Psycho-killer on the prowl. Many incidents of mis identification had been reported earlier also where locals had thrashed innocent people mistaking them for the elusive killer. Coming to the rescue of Mr Roger Vandenbyvange (61) on a Habeas Corpus petition, a division bench comprising Justice D Murugesan and Justice T Palanivel ordered his release.The bench also ordered quality medical treatment after which he should be handed over to his daughter Nathalie Vandenbyvange in good condition.The bench expressed surprise over the fact that the district administration was not able to differentiate between a beggar and a foreign national.In her petition, Ms Nathalie submitted that her father had come to India to seek the blessings of Mata Amirtanandamayi. He had a valid passport and a visa. It seemed he lost his passport and other travel documents along with his personal belongings, including his clothes, she said.UNI
7/22/2008
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