Ramar Pillai sentenced to 3 years in prison

dZired · 17th October 2016, 12:56

Ramar Pillai, who shot to fame around two decades ago after claiming to have developed an herbal alternative to petrol, has been sentenced to 3 years of Rigorous Imprisonment by a court in Chennai. He was facing trial in a cheating case filed by the CBI. Along with Ramar, four of his associates - R Venudevi, S Chinnasamy, R Rajasegaran and S K Bharat, have also been sent to prison.

Back in 1996, Ramar Pillai had come up with a bio fuel that he claimed to be a cheaper and more viable alternative to petrol. Within a month, country's leading institutes like IIT Madras and Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun rubbished his claims. However, Ramar Pillai went on to open multiple retail outlets in the city and started selling 'Ramar Bio Fuel'. Priced at Rs. 10 to Rs. 15 per litre, the alternative fuel was much cheaper than petrol, which was at that time priced around Rs. 35 per litre.

CBI filed a case against Ramar and he was arrested in the year 2000 on charges of buying organic chemicals and then mixing them with additives to develop the so-called herbal fuel. However, Pillai came back with yet another 'invention' in 2010. He had changed his name to Ponnupillai Ramar, while the new fuel was now called Velar Bio Hydrocarbon Fuel.

But owing to his earlier image, no one really paid attention to his new claim. Meanwhile, the CBI filed case dragged on in court. The final decision was penned down on Wednesday, 12 October. Along with the aforementioned jail term, the court has also imposed a fine of Rs. 30,000 on the team (Rs. 6,000 each).

Source: Times of India

Link to Team-BHP News

avingodb · 17th October 2016, 13:11

The environmentalist and nationalist in me feels happy. Then 15, I had joyously thought, what a magical research by an Indian scientist! If only life was that simple :P

deehunk · 17th October 2016, 13:38

Wow, glad that the judgement came when we are still alive. I was 17, when I first read about this in a newspaper.

WorkingGuru · 17th October 2016, 14:29

(Sarcasm) All hail the Indian Judiciary. (/Sarcasm)

After 20 years, this guy who duped so many customers & small businessmen, is given a paltry fine of Rs. 6,000/-

I'm pretty sure the RI would soon be pardoned to normal imprisonment & maybe later even the sentence would be reduced with court pleas of "good behaviour".

Hurts the credibility of honest small time inventors.

Rehaan · 18th October 2016, 16:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by avingodb

Then 15, I had joyously thought, what a magical research by an Indian scientist!

Unfortunately whenever India makes the news for something like this, these two phrases are interchangeable:

"what a magical research by an Indian scientist!"
vs
"what a masterful scheme by an Indian scamster!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorkingGuru

... this guy who duped so many customers & small businessmen, is given a paltry fine of Rs. 6,000/-

Yes, it took a long time - no arguements there. However, the fine is nothing compared to the 3 years in prison! That's the real punishment...

17th October 2016, 12:56	#1
dZired Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,861 Thanked: 7,960 Times View My Garage	Ramar Pillai sentenced to 3 years in prison Ramar Pillai, who shot to fame around two decades ago after claiming to have developed an herbal alternative to petrol, has been sentenced to 3 years of Rigorous Imprisonment by a court in Chennai. He was facing trial in a cheating case filed by the CBI. Along with Ramar, four of his associates - R Venudevi, S Chinnasamy, R Rajasegaran and S K Bharat, have also been sent to prison. Back in 1996, Ramar Pillai had come up with a bio fuel that he claimed to be a cheaper and more viable alternative to petrol. Within a month, country's leading institutes like IIT Madras and Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun rubbished his claims. However, Ramar Pillai went on to open multiple retail outlets in the city and started selling 'Ramar Bio Fuel'. Priced at Rs. 10 to Rs. 15 per litre, the alternative fuel was much cheaper than petrol, which was at that time priced around Rs. 35 per litre. CBI filed a case against Ramar and he was arrested in the year 2000 on charges of buying organic chemicals and then mixing them with additives to develop the so-called herbal fuel. However, Pillai came back with yet another 'invention' in 2010. He had changed his name to Ponnupillai Ramar, while the new fuel was now called Velar Bio Hydrocarbon Fuel. But owing to his earlier image, no one really paid attention to his new claim. Meanwhile, the CBI filed case dragged on in court. The final decision was penned down on Wednesday, 12 October. Along with the aforementioned jail term, the court has also imposed a fine of Rs. 30,000 on the team (Rs. 6,000 each). Source: Times of India Link to Team-BHP News Last edited by dZired : 17th October 2016 at 13:04.
	(10) Thanks

17th October 2016, 13:11	#2
avingodb BHPian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Delhi/Mumbai Posts: 683 Thanked: 696 Times	Re: Ramar Pillai sentenced to 3 years in prison The environmentalist and nationalist in me feels happy. Then 15, I had joyously thought, what a magical research by an Indian scientist! If only life was that simple :P
	(7) Thanks

17th October 2016, 13:38	#3
deehunk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,937 Thanked: 2,913 Times	Re: Ramar Pillai sentenced to 3 years in prison Wow, glad that the judgement came when we are still alive. I was 17, when I first read about this in a newspaper. Last edited by deehunk : 17th October 2016 at 13:39.
	(1) Thanks

17th October 2016, 14:29	#4
WorkingGuru BHPian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Bangalore Posts: 529 Thanked: 2,213 Times	Re: Ramar Pillai sentenced to 3 years in prison (Sarcasm) All hail the Indian Judiciary. (/Sarcasm) After 20 years, this guy who duped so many customers & small businessmen, is given a paltry fine of Rs. 6,000/- I'm pretty sure the RI would soon be pardoned to normal imprisonment & maybe later even the sentence would be reduced with court pleas of "good behaviour". Hurts the credibility of honest small time inventors.
	(1) Thanks