MIC first term Treasurer-General Datuk R. Ramanan stepped down from his position with immediate effect pending a court case.
Ramanan said he has filed an appeal today against a High Court decision, which on Thursday, ordered him to return RM5.5 million to psychiatrist Tan Sri Dr M. Mahadevan.
Ramanan had fraudulently received the sum from the defence ministry when "assisting" the psychiatrist to recover the payment, four years ago.
"In view of the High Court decision and in the interest of MIC and my president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel who I love very much, I am stepping down as the Treasurer-General of MIC until I clear my name in court.
"I do not want this High Court decision to be exploited by anyone. It has been exploited enough.
"This is a civil matter between two individuals. It is not a criminal case," he said at a press conference at the MIC headquarters today.
When asked why he decided to step down as it was only a civil case and some other MIC leaders had previously been involved in similar cases, Ramanan said it is an honorable thing to do because he loves the party, Barisan Nasional (BN) and Palanivel.
Ramanan said he has not informed Palanivel of his decision before announcing it and he hoped that the latter would accept it.
"This decision is purely my own. It is for the betterment of the party," he said.
Ramanan assured that despite stepping down, he will continue to serve the Indian community and the public.
Ramanan added that he is willing to 'park' the RM5.5 million into both the defendant and the plaintiff solicitors' accounts.
"It is not an issue of money. I am appealing the case but I will pay the money," he said.
On Thursday, Judicial Commissioner Lee Heng Cheong, in his decision, said he agreed with Dr Mahadevan's counsel that Ramanan had fraudulently misrepresented himself to the plaintiff, resulting in him transferring the money into the defendant's personal account on May 19, 2010.
Ramanan was ordered to pay the money within 14 days but following his application, the court allowed an interim stay of execution, pending an application next Monday.
T K Letchumy Tamboo
Mon Jan 27 2014
Letupan bom Sungai Golok: Empat anggota keselamatan Thailand cedera
Empat anggota keselamatan Thailand cedera apabila terkena letupan bom di Sungai Golok, Thailand, malam tadi.
Berang tidak bantu angkat tong gas, penghantar barang dibelasah, motor dirosakkan
Suspek menyerang mangsa dengan topi keledar sehingga menyebabkan mangsa mengalami kecederaan di dahi.
Arahan tutup pasar malam waktu Maghrib tidak babitkan peniaga bukan Islam
Arahan penutupan sementara hanya membabitkan peniaga Islam bagaimanapun turut menggalakkan peniaga bukan Islam sekiranya mahu berbuat demikian.
Pelan Tindakan Pendidikan dan Penghayatan Rukun Negara dilancar Ogos ini - Aaron
Ia melibatkan Kementerian Perpaduan Negara, Kementerian Pendidikan, Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi, dan Kementerian Komunikasi.
Peserta maraton Cyberjaya dipapah lepasi garisan penamat
Peserta maraton rebah di garisan penamat sejurus sebelum menamatkan larian 42km dalam perlumbaan Twincity Marathon Cyberjaya.
Proton buka pusat penyelidikan dan pembangunan di Teluk Hangzhou, China
Pembukaan pusat R&D itu akan meningkatkan sinergi kecekapan dalaman mereka dengan penggunaan sumber dan pengetahuan Geely.
AWANI Ringkas: Wujudkan akta lindungi pekerja OKU/autistik
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Calon PH tayang sijil UPSR 7A, SPM 10A
Calon PH, Pang Sock Tao menyahut cabaran Ketua Penerangan Pas, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari supaya menunjukkan kelulusan pendidikan rendah dan menengahnya.
AWANI Ringkas: Wujudkan akta lindungi pekerja OKU/autistik
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Isu stoking: Pengarah KK Mart, isteri akan kemuka representasi kepada AGC
Pengarah KK Mart yang berdepan dua pertuduhan melukakan perasaan orang Islam dalam isu berkaitan penjualan stoking tertera kalimah Allah akan mengemukakan representasi kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara.
Bendahari Agung MIC letak jawatan
Bendahari Agung MIC, Datuk R. Ramanan hari ini meletakkan jawatan beliau berkuatkuasa serta-merta, sehingga kes mahkamah beliau selesai.