Gutka scam fallout: Inspector approaches Madras HC seeking anticipatory bail
Chennai: Apprehending arrest in connection with the multi-crore gutka scam case, an inspector of police approached the Madras high court, seeking anticipatory bail.
Justice M.Dhandapani, before whom the anticipatory bail petition filed by V.Sampath, working as Arumuganeri law and order inspector of police, Sipcot, Tuticorin district, ordered notice to the CBI and posted the next hearing to October 22.
According to petitioner, during the year 2015 Central Crime Branch, Chennai, under the guidance of Jeyakumar, deputy commissioner, CCB, raided a warehouse in Red Hills and found materials consisting of tobacco and pan masala.
After the raid, the materials were handed over to the Red Hills police station, where Mannar Mannan was the assistant commissioner of police and the petitioner was the then inspector of police from February 16, 2014, to January 20, 2016.
He has no knowledge about the raid and the materials seized in the raid or even the purpose of the raid, he added.
He said after examination of the materials, the food safety officer decided to destroy the food substances which were seized.
He only accompanied the FSO while the materials were destroyed, he added.
He said he has been transferred from the particular station on January 20, 2016, and have been serving as the station house officer, Arumuganeri.
The CBI under the pretext of inquiry, have raided his residence situated at Royapuram in Chennai as well as his residence situated at the police quarters in Arumuganeri and his relatives house as well under the apprehension that he was also involved in the alleged crime, that having found nothing, the CBI have not initiated any further action against him and all along he was treated badly since the investigation clearly revealed that neither his relatives nor himself had involved in the alleged crime.
After some time, he came to know some of the officers were arrested including the FSO and the owners of the warehouse. While so, he was issued with summons for his personal appearance thrice.
“For the only reason, he was in charge of the station house, the CBI police are attempting to arrest him while he was not involved in the crime. There is a serious threat and apprehension of his arrest. Hence, he filed the present petition”, he added.
