Ex-employee moves SC against Chatwal

A former employee of US-based hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal has approached the Supreme Court,accusing his NRI boss of forcing him to sign a cheque for Rs 6 crore under duress in police custody. The petition by Ram Gupta,who was managing director of Chatwals super luxury deluxe five star hotel called Dream at Ernakulam in Kerala,is one of a series of complaints between the two.

The petition came up for hearing before a Bench of Justices J M Panchal and H L Gokhale. The case was presented before the Bench on Monday. The petition was admitted and notices were issued to Mr Chatwal and the State of Kerala, E M S Anam,Guptas counsel,said. The arguments for Gupta was led by senior advocate Rohinton Nariman,he added.

Chatwal had alleged that Gupta colluded with the contractors of various works taken up at the hotel to cause him a loss of Rs 15 crore.

PMK leader hacked to death

A gang of more than 10 allegedly hacked to death the state vice-president of the Pattali Makkal Katchi PMK along the bypass road here on Tuesday. The incident took place when Ilanchezhian,46,was returning after dropping his children at school,the police said adding the gang knocked him off his two-wheeler and then hacked him to death.