Idol theft cases: Madras HC pulls up govt for not complying with its order

Chennai: The Madras high court on Monday came down heavily on the state government for not complying its order, after the Special Officer IG Pon Manickavel appointed by the court to continue the probe into idol theft cases, brought to the notice of the court that its order was not complied with.

When a batch of petitions relating to idol theft cases came up for hearing before a division bench comprising R. Mahadevan and A.D. Audikesavalu, Pon Manickavel submitted that additional advocate general submitted that the government has provided an office with staff to the officer and other facilities. It was not so, to some extent only, they complied with the order. Only one percent of the order was complied with, he added.

He said for the last 20 days DSP Paneerselvam, who was an investigating officer in a case, was missing. The special team was searching for him. A new investigating officer was probing the case but DSP Paneerselvam has not handed over the CD files, he added.

The bench said in at least in all the cases, the state was a party. But nobody was here to assist the court. He was making serious allegations. It was nothing but committing contempt after contempt. “We only expect compliance”, the bench added and posted to January 24, further hearing of the case.

Directing DSP Paneerselvam, who was present in the court to hand over the CD files immediately, the bench said, “This is a divine place. If the court is passing orders, they are bound to comply with. Why the officer has not handed over the CD files. The topmost officer must reply. What made the officer not to hand over the CD”.

When the special officer submitted that he has to arrest the officer and remand him, the bench said if law permits, he can do so.

Earlier, Elephant Rajendran, one of the petitioners complained to the bench that two days back an incident took place he escaped. “If anything happens to me, they have to give Rs 10 crore to my family. One of the law officers instigated somebody to finish me. Therefore, I need police protection”, he added.

Directing him to file a memo seeking police protection, the bench directed additional public prosecutor Iyyapparaj to file his reply.