evidence: Prasanna Ranatunga misused CM powers and privileges to extort Rs. 64mn: Judge Minister Prasanna Ranatunga had misused the powers and privileges of his chief ministerial office in the case filed against him over threatening a businessman, Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne has noted in his judgement on the case. The Attorney General had filed indictments on 15 counts against Prasanna Ranatunga, his wife Maureen Ranatunga and Naresh Kumar Fareek over threatening a businessman – Christian Gerad Mendis and demanding Rs 64 million from him through several cheques. The offence had been committed when Mr Ranatunga was Chief Minister of the Western Province.