Charges against Narandas withdrawn

The charges of intimidation levelled against controversial businessman Rajiv Narandas have been dropped, but he is far from out of the woods.

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Durban - The charges of initimidation levelled against Rajiv Narandas last month, have been dropped but he is far from out of the woods.

Narandas was supposed to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday but the State said on Thursday that, after meeting the complainants in the intimidation case, it had decided to provisionally withdraw the charges.

“The State does have a prima facie case but the complainant - who is 72 - has a 65-year relationship with the (Narandas) family and no longer fears for his safety now that the accused is behind bars,” the court heard on Thursday.

Narandas is currently being held at Westville Prison.

The intimidation case related to a “family dispute” between him and his cousin, over who had the right to use a number plate.

But Narandas has also been convicted of stabbing 32-year-old Veenand Singh to death, outside a Sandton nightclub, in 2008.

The Supreme Court of Appeal has dismissed an application to overturn his 18-year prison sentence and he is in the process of approaching the Constitutional Court.

He is expected to appear in the Alexandra court next week to apply for bail during this process.

bernadette.wolhuter@inl.co.za

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