Chennai: Pointing out that the report as sought for has been filed in the eleventh hour only to prevent the appearance of the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, before the court, Madras High Court has directed him to appear before the court on March 27.
Justice S. Vaidyanathan asked him to appear before the court on March 27 and explain the same to avoid non-bailable warrant. After it was brought to notice of the court that investigation was not completed and charge sheet has not been filed in several cases including cases dealt with by the Central Crime Branch and cases up to 2011 were kept in cold storage, the judge had on August 22 while dealing with a bail application, directed the CoP to file a status report of cases up to 2011 pending before the investigating officer or CCB and made it clear that if the report was not filed, the CoP will have to appear before this court to give verbal explanation and in writing thereafter.
In his present order, the judge said he was surprised to note that the cause list dated March 20 showed that report has been received in this matter. Probably, it could have been ante-dated. Firstly, in the order dated August 22, 2016, this court directed the CoP to submit a status report on or before December 6, 2016 before this court.
Ultimately, no report has been filed before the said date. Secondly, the said report has not been filed for over a month and when he went through the case bundle on March 17, no such report was available in the bundle.
Additional public prosecutor submitted that the report has been filed before the I Additional sessions court in February 2017. However, nothing prevented the police in informing this court or filing a petition seeking extension of time for production of report before this court.
The judge also pointed out that the additional sessions judge appeared before him and submitted that no report has been filed by the COP in February 2017 or till date, when the order of this court was very clear that the report has got to be filed only before the high court.
Meanwhile, a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G.Ramesh and Justice RMT.Teeka Raman dispensed with the personal appearance of Chennai Police Commissioner George in connection with a contempt of court case.
After Justice N. Kirubakaran pulled up CoP for not complying with the court order directing him to provide protection to a whistle bowler, who was instrumental in bringing to light huge assets owned by councilor Annamalai, George had on March 17 gave an undertaking that he would appear before the court on March 22. Senior counsel S. Prabakaran appearing for George on Monday filed a memo stating that the COP had not violated the court order.
