Chennai: Barely two weeks after the Madras high court sought central police for its campus, two time pieces and three letters threatening the judiciary of dire consequences if any official took bribe were found on the premises. The bomb scare caused panic among advocates and litigants.
Around 11.30 am, a few people who entered the restroom meant for court staff near the Madras Bar Association heard a beep coming from one of the toilets. They immediately informed the Registrar-General, P. Kalaiyarasan, who in turn alerted police. Minutes later, a team from the bomb detection and disposal squad, accompanied by a sniffer dog 'Scot', arrived. The personnel searched the entire place for nearly 20 minutes. As information spread, a large number of advocates, staff and litigants assembled round the place.
After 30-minutes, the police found two time pieces kept in a box wrapped in white cloth. Three letters were also found in the toilet. The letters strongly criticised officials for taking bribes. They also said corrupt officials should be booked using CCTVs. The team seized the time pieces and the letters.
Even before the panic could subside, a lift operator in the city civil court building in the campus found another device at 11.45 a.m. On information, the team rushed to the place and found two clocks and three letters. Following a high court order of September 27, the state government had declared the court premises here and in Madurai as High Security Zones.
